Picture this: you’re at your dentist’s office for your semi-annual cleaning and exam. You’ve been experiencing a little bit of tooth sensitivity, but otherwise your teeth and gums feel fine. You’re not in any pain, but your dentist suddenly delivers some shocking news: you have an infected tooth, and you’re going to need a root canal.
How could this be? After all, nothing seems out of the ordinary. How could your tooth be in such distress without you even realizing it? The truth is that you don’t need to be in pain to have a tooth infection. Though there may be other warning signs that there’s trouble lurking inside, pain is not always an indicator.
Here are a few red flags that your tooth could be in trouble that may or may not feel problematic.
Bumps on Gums
A pimple-like bump on your gums could be a sign of a tooth infection. Known as a fistula, these bumps occur below the infected tooth and may or may not be tender or painful to the touch.
Swollen Gums
If you have gum disease, you may already have some swelling in the gums, however, swelling from an infected tooth is different. They can be tender or painful, and the discomfort does not go away in a few hours like it might after flossing.
Darkening Gums
If your gums have become darker in color, this is often a warning sign of a tooth infection, as the tooth and gum tissue begin to decay.
A Broken Tooth
Do you have a broken, cracked, or chipped tooth? This could be the sign of a bigger problem. Whether your tooth experienced trauma that became infected, or the damage was caused by the infection itself, if you have a broken tooth there is a good chance you may need a root canal to save it.
Abscess
An abscess is a hole in your jawbone that prevents bone from growing around it. These can appear on your X-rays as a dark spot.
What is a Root Canal?
Now that you know why you might need a root canal, you might be wondering what a root canal is. Basically, it’s a procedure to remove infected tooth pulp and save the tooth itself from needing extraction. To perform one, your dentist will drain your tooth of the infection, clean it out, and fill it back up with a medicated synthetic pulp that will prevent further infection and keep the tooth strong enough to survive. Then, it will be sealed back up with a filling, and you will be able to use it again just as you did before the infection.
Recovery for a root canal is generally very well tolerated. In fact, most people feel relief following the procedure, and though you should avoid chewing on that side of your mouth for several days after the treatment, it should feel better with each passing day.
Remember, you won’t always know that you have a tooth infection, but your dentist is well trained to identify these types of illnesses. If you have been told you need a root canal, don’t panic. This is a very common procedure that will not only provide relief, but it will also protect your healthy teeth from infection and prevent you from losing your infected tooth entirely.
About Dr. Moulton
Dr. Marc Moulton prides himself on being able to provide patients of all ages with a sense of calm when they visit his practice. That’s because he knows that all the skills in the world won’t amount to much if you’re too afraid to even sit down in the dental chair. Dr. Moulton has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years and has enjoyed not only expanding his education in that time, but also helping countless patients overcome their fears and dramatically improve their oral health.
Contact the team at Moulton Dentistry of Hoover to schedule your root canal by visiting our website or calling us at 205-988-3360.