A root canal is a procedure specifically designed to save you from losing a tooth. Our teeth are comprised of certain parts, one of them being the pulp. A tooth’s pulp is where the nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue are housed. When this part of tooth becomes inflamed or infected, then action must be taken in order to stop that tooth from falling right out of your mouth.
-Toothaches are pretty common, but certain ones point to the chance of an inflamed/infected pulp. If you experience sharp pain in the middle of the night that leads into a generalized headache, then your tooth’s root may be suffering.
-If you see a bump near the top part of a tooth and/or pus present in the mouth, then it may be an abscess and there’s a good chance a root canal will be required.
-Extreme pain to hot and cold foods is also a good indicator.
-A severe sign is dark discoloration on the tooth points to a deteriorated pulp.
If we suspect a tooth’s root is in danger, then you will undergo an x-ray to help confirm diagnosis. Root canals are often a two-appointment procedure, with the first appointment taking up to an hour to perform. The second appointment is for a dental crown since most of your tooth with be lost during the process and must be capped with a crown to restore its appearance.