4 Signs You Might Need a Root Canal

If you have persistent pain in one or more of your teeth, you may need a root canal. While this may sound scary, Rosas Family Dentistry in Clear Lake, TX, is here to put your mind at ease!

Simply put, a root canal is a procedure to clean and repair the roots of your tooth to treat an active infection. Root canal therapy is crucial for stopping potential tooth loss and preventing the infection from spreading to other teeth or structures of the mouth.

Keep reading to see if you might be a candidate for root canal therapy.

Your Tooth is Abscessed

A dental abscess is a bacterial infection that develops in the dental pulp, which sits in the center of your tooth. If left untreated, a dental abscess can be extremely painful, cause significant damage to the tooth, and even result in tooth loss. Since this infection occurs inside the tooth, you will need root canal therapy to clean out the tooth and protect it from further infection.

Signs and symptoms of a dental abscess may include pain, redness, swelling, and drainage. The most obvious sign is a pimple-like bump near the base of the tooth.

You Suffered a Traumatic Injury

If you chip or break a tooth, you might feel embarrassed about the appearance of your smile. However, damaged teeth are much more than a cosmetic concern because even the smallest cracks can lead to tooth loss due to infection.

When you break a tooth due to a traumatic injury, it creates an opening that bacteria can easily slip into. In no time at all, this bacteria can create an infection that jeopardizes the entire tooth structure.

The Rosas Family Dentistry team in Clear Lake has treated many damaged teeth, and we’re here to help. First, we’ll flush out all the bacteria using a root canal to ensure the tooth is safe. Next, we’ll use a dental crown to preserve the tooth’s integrity and protect it from future infections.

Your Tooth is Starting to Die

Our teeth are incredibly resilient, but they can eventually die as we age. Sometimes, tooth death is due to something like untreated trauma from many years ago, while other times, it might be due to years of pressure from teeth grinding. In any event, a dead tooth needs prompt care to reduce pain and prevent the spread of infection.

Some signs of a dead tooth include:

• Dark discoloration, often appearing yellow or brown
• Hypersensitivity
• Bad breath/bad taste
• Swelling near the tooth

Root canal therapy removes the decayed material from the tooth to prevent it from deteriorating any further. That way, the Rosas Family Dentistry team can treat the tooth with a crown instead of having to extract it.

There’s an Extremely Deep Cavity

Cavities are extremely common, and many of us have received a filling or two in our lifetimes. However, your dentist may not be able to use a filling on a cavity if it is too large. In these cases, we need to clean out all decay using a root canal and then protect the tooth with a dental crown.

Root Canals are Nothing to Be Afraid Of

Root canals are often depicted as painful experiences, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In most cases, root canals actually reduce the pain caused by infection or other issues affecting the tooth.

The procedure is quite simple.

First, our dentist will numb in and around the tooth to ensure you don’t feel a thing. At most, you’ll feel gentle pressure during the treatment.

Next, we’ll will clean out the tooth using cutting-edge equipment to precisely treat the affected area. After this, we will fill the roots with a special sealant that blocks anything from getting side it. Last, we’ll cover your tooth with a temporary crown to prevent it from further harm.

Once we’re done, your dentist in Clear Lake will provide you with aftercare tips to ensure a fast, effective recovery. We may also provide you with medications like antibiotics and painkillers to reduce inflammation. Recovery typically lasts for less than a week.  

The Best Way to Preserve Your Natural Tooth

Rosas Family Dentistry is here to help if you have recurring tooth pain or notice any of the other symptoms mentioned above. Our fast root canal treatments can save your tooth, saving you the emotional trauma and financial cost of losing a tooth.

Call our Clear Lake office today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.