Root Canal Awareness Week: What You Should Know

Root canals provide patients with an alternative to having a tooth pulled when infection and decay have compromised the integrity of the tooth. Root Canal Awareness Week is a good time to remind patients that root canal procedures are very common and with Dr. Kevin Varley and Stonebrook Family Dental, you’re in good hands! 

Root Canal Awareness Week: What are Root Canals?

It’s Root Canal Awareness Week, so here’s what you need to know:

A ‘root canal’ refers to the actual passages within the tooth found between the pulp and the tooth roots. These passages contain nerves and blood vessels. Once an adult has a tooth emerge from the gums, the only specific purpose of the tooth’s nerve is to sense hot, hold, and other stimuli. When the pulp of a tooth becomes infected, it is standard procedure to eliminate the infection and related pain by removing the nerve and the infected pulp from inside the tooth. This is essentially a thorough cleaning of the inside of the tooth. Once this is done, the subsequent healing is also referred to as a ‘root canal.’ A root canal cleans out the infected tooth pulp and disinfects the canals of the tooth. 

A root canal can help you avoid the need to have a tooth pulled. Your teeth are meant to last in your mouth for a lifetime, however, when they become diseased or injured you risk losing them forever. Thankfully, root canals can save your teeth from extraction. This therapy is necessary when an untreated cavity goes all the way to the pulp. 

Do You Need a Root Canal? 

A person might have to undergo a root canal for a few different reasons. They could be needed due to an injury or genetics, a deep cavity, or untreated issues from a previous filling. The following symptoms listed by the American Academy of Endodontists: 

• Severe pain while chewing or biting.
• Pimples on the gums.
• A chipped or cracked tooth.
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed.
• Swollen or tender gums.
• Deep decay or darkening of the gums.  

The main telltale sign of needing a root canal is increased sensitivity to hot and cold or sweets. However, sometimes, no symptoms are apparent and you won’t know of any issues until you come in for your checkup (which is just one important reason why these checkups are important). 

Root Canal Awareness Week: What to Expect

While having a root canal doesn’t sound like fun, it can leave you feeling exponentially better than before you came into the office. Most patients that undergo a root canal will immediately feel a lessening of the pain that was caused by the infection. Any post-procedure pain and discomfort that is felt is typically easily resolved with over-the-counter medications. If you are a patient that is waiting on a permanent filling or crown should avoid chewing on the treated tooth to prevent any additional pain or damage until the treatment is completed. For proper healing, you should continue to brush and floss as normal. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with warm salt water to relieve occasional inflammation. 

Root Canal Awareness Week: Pain After Root Canal 

Once your procedure is done, the pain should subside within a few days. If you still experience pain or swelling beyond this, it’s important that you call our office and let us know. Some patients might require one to two sessions for a root canal to be successful. Healthline explains that in severe cases, more cleaning sessions may be required. Your symptoms should ease up if you continue to take over-the-counter medications, however, if they don’t, your dentist could recommend prescription-strength pain medication to be taken on a temporary basis. Once your tooth is done being treated, your dentist may put a crown on top of it to prevent any future damage to an already delicate tooth. 

Make an Appointment with Stonebrook Family Dental

If you believe you may need a root canal, make an appointment at Stonebrook Family Dental. Taking care of symptoms when they hit is a crucial part of maintaining your oral health. If your condition worsens, it could lead to more permanent and painful consequences. Root canals are a simple procedure to treat your tooth infection. Here in Aurora, Colorado, we can give you the treatment you need. Don’t ignore your symptoms this Root Canal Awareness week, call us now!