Do I Need a Root Canal

Dec 30, 2016

One day, as you’re eating, you may feel some pain in your teeth and wonder if you need to get a root canal. That’s a common assumption, and you should to see your dentist to see what the next steps are so that you can be pain free.

There are several reasons why a root canal may be necessary. If you feel pain when you bite down on food or even when you bring your teeth together, that may be a sign of tooth pulp damage. Sensitivity to cold or hot food or drinks can be another sign. Some people even find that their gums are swollen or tender near the problem tooth. Also, if you sustained any kind of tooth trauma, such as an accident or in sports, you may have cracked your tooth, which often requires restorative dentistry, like a root canal, to save the tooth.

Why You Should Get a Root Canal?

A root canal is required when the tissue in the tooth’s roots, which is called the pulp, becomes infected or inflamed, causing pain. A dentist will drill into the tooth, remove the diseased pulp, and then fill that space with a special material.

Sometimes, patients may say, “Why can’t I just get the tooth pulled?” There are several reasons why a root canal is a better choice as compared to extraction.

A root canal allows you to retain a natural appearance . When a root canal is completed, the structure of the tooth is unstable. To create a stable tooth, your dentist will prepare your tooth for a crown. Once the crown has been fitted onto the tooth, your dentist will carefully match the crown material to the exact color of your teeth. Your tooth will look exactly as it did before the root canal.
A root canal allows you to bite and chew normally . You may have been in some pain before the root canal. Since the pulp contained blood vessels and nerves, you’ll find that you no longer are in pain when eating, drinking, or chewing. If your tooth was completely extracted, then you would have to either learn to live with a large gap in your mouth, or get a partial bridge that may be prone to falling out. Instead, getting a crown to cover your tooth allows you to eat hard, sticky foods and to chew comfortably.

Severns Dentistry and Orthodontics will ensure that you’ll feel relaxed and comfortable before, during, and after your root canal procedure. If you’re feeling some discomfort when eating or drinking hot and cold foods, give our Pittsburgh dental practice a call. There’s no need to deal with the pain when a root canal is a quick, painless procedures that uses high-tech equipment.

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Author: Natalie Severns, DMD

Upon graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Severns specialized in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She then did an externship in London, England, at the prestigious Guy’s Hospital. At this hospital, she learned top therapies in Dentofacial Orthopedics to provide her patients with the best possible facial esthetics.