Root canal treatment is one of the most effective restorative dentistry procedures used for repairing severely infected or decayed teeth. Your tooth’s inner tissue or pulp could become infected, inflamed, and irritated due to large or improperly placed fillings, deep decay, repeated dental treatments on the tooth, facial trauma, or a chip or crack in your tooth. When this occurs, root canal therapy may be a viable option.
Aside from saving your smile by preventing tooth loss, a root canal could also save you from more serious complications when performed properly. Dr. Don Timpton, our dentist here at Carmel Commons Dental, Charlotte, NC, can determine if you’re eligible for root canal treatment and/or other restorative dentistry procedures.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
Some of the most common signs that you may require a root canal include the following:
Prolonged pain or sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures, even after cold or heat has been removed
Severe tooth pain when applying pressure, such as when chewing
Tenderness and swelling in the surrounding gums
Tooth discoloration
A recurring or persistent pimple or gum inflammation
It is, however, extremely important to note that in some cases, people won’t feel any warning signs until it’s too late to save the infected tooth. Visiting your dentist in Charlotte, NC, every six months is the only way to keep on top of your oral health. These appointments guarantee that everything’s in tiptop shape.
Why You Need Prompt Root Canal Therapy to Save Your Smile
Once your pulp is damaged or infected, it will break down and allow bacteria to reproduce inside your pulp chamber. This creates an abscessed tooth or infection. An abscess is a pocket that’s filled with pus that forms at the tip of the roots. Aside from an abscess, a root canal infection could likewise result in:
Swelling that could easily spread to your nose, ears, jaw, and other parts of your face, head, or neck.
Bone atrophy or loss around your infected tooth’s root tips.
Severe drainage issues that extend out from your infected tooth root. When this happens, a hole could develop on the side of your tooth and drain through your gums or cheek and into your skin.
With all the serious complications that an untreated infected tooth brings, don’t hesitate to visit us here at Carmel Commons Dental in Charlotte, NC. Call us now at (704) 540-2443 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Don Timpton as soon as possible.