When Is Dental Endodontics the Right Choice?
If you asked people what dental treatment was the scariest or most painful, chances are many of them would say root canals. This type of dental care has quite the reputation, but it can help to save your tooth and keep pain and discomfort at bay. Root canal treatment falls under endodontics, and that is one of the areas that we specialise in.
To help you know when it is time to book an appointment with a member of our dental endodontics team, here are some signs that you should be looking out for, along with what you can expect from us.
What are the signs you might need a root canal?
There are a number of things that can point towards an issue with the root of your tooth, including:
- A severe, intense pain in your tooth or gum that comes on very quickly
- Swollen or tender gums around the affected tooth
- Suddenly becoming more sensitive to hot and cold foods
- A tooth that is tender, discoloured or has become loose
- An unexplained metallic taste in your mouth
You may not need root canal treatment if you notice any of these signs, but it is best to come in and see us as soon as you do. That way, we can see what is going on and treat the issue at the earliest possible stage.
What does root canal treatment involve?
Every appointment is different, but as a general rule of thumb, you can expect things to start with your dentist drilling a hole into your tooth. This allows them to go in and remove the infected pulp from the inside of your tooth. If you have an abscess, this will be drained at this point as well. The inside of your tooth will then be cleansed and shaped for a filling, and after the filling has been carried out, the tooth will be sealed. If your tooth was very badly infected, a crown may be required instead.
Root canals are usually carried out over two or more appointments, and you will be given advice on how to care for your tooth between them.
Are root canals very painful?
Lots of people put off booking an appointment with one of our endodontics specialists because they have heard horror stories about root canals being excruciatingly painful. Before we do anything else, you will be given a local anaesthetic to stop you from feeling any pain. If you do feel any discomfort during the procedure, tell your dentist, and they will stop right away. We are used to dealing with nervous patients and will do all we can to help you feel relaxed and comfortable.
Talk to us
To find out more about root canal treatment and how our dental endodontics team can help you, please get in touch today! We are here to answer all of your questions so you can go ahead and book your appointment with confidence.
