Three Signs You May Need Endodontics Treatment

Endodontics might be recommended if you have an infected or badly damaged tooth. Procedures like root canals are used to clean out the contents of the pulp chamber as a way to prevent or treat infections.

Endodontics therapy has a bad reputation as one of the scariest treatments performed by dentists, but that is simply not true. Patients do not feel significant pain during the procedure because a local anesthetic is used to numb the area being worked on.

During a root canal, the dentist uses a dental drill to gain access to the pulp chamber. Dental files are then used to remove the nerves and blood vessels there, and medication might be pushed into the tooth. The tooth is sealed with gutta-percha, and it might be covered with a crown to protect it from further damage.

Three signs you need endodontics

Wondering if you might need root canal therapy in the near future? Here are some signs you should consider:

1. Toothaches

One of the surest ways to determine if you need endodontic therapy is intense pain coming from a tooth. The pain might start as something that only occurs when the affected tooth is touched, but it comes on more regularly over time.

The pain caused by a compromised pulp chamber can be intense enough to prevent a person from getting any sleep at night or focusing on tasks during the day. In many cases, over-the-counter toothache products have little to no effect on the pain. Performing a root canal and removing the tooth’s nerve brings the pain to an end.

2. Sensitive gums

A tooth infection can also lead to increased gum sensitivity, typically around the infected tooth. Touching these sensitive gum tissues typically leads to pain. A tooth infection can also lead to inflammation of gum tissues and tenderness.

3. Increased sensitivity to hot, cold, and sweet foods and beverages

Sudden increased sensitivity in a tooth can be a sign its pulp chamber has been compromised. The severity of the sensitivity typically intensifies as the infected tooth deteriorates further. Root canal therapy is needed to clean out the pulp chamber and rebuild the tooth. The sensitivity should go away once the tooth has been restored.

Benefits of endodontic therapy

Root canal therapy allows dentists to save teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted. The procedure takes about an hour for each tooth, and the patient walks out of the clinic with their tooth restored. Any pain and sensitivity caused by the tooth should be gone at that point.

There is no recovery period after getting a root canal, so patients are free to get back to their daily activities. Dentists recommend sticking to soft foods for the first few days after the treatment to avoid any complications.

Restore your tooth with endodontics

Our dentist can save severely damaged, decayed, or infected teeth with endodontics. Call or visit our Delray Beach clinic to set up an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://www.palmbeachdentistry.com or call Palm Beach Dentistry at (561) 225-2057 for an appointment in our Delray Beach office.

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