Endodontic or root canal therapy is a series of dental procedures that become necessary for treating the pulp of a single tooth or multiple teeth that have become infected. Not only does the procedure eliminate the infection, it also helps to protect the tooth from any future infections. The pulp chamber within the tooth contains blood vessels and nerve tissues, both of which are negatively impacted by the infection.
Accurate Diagnosis Is The First Step
If you are concerned that one or more of your teeth has an infected pulp, you will need to schedule an appointment at Shine Dental Associates so that a dentist can make an accurate and proper diagnosis of your condition. More importantly, we will need to collect additional information in order to evaluate your condition and make our recommendation for treatment. Although there are a number of signs and symptoms that are immediately apparent, there are others that are less noticeable.
Signs And Symptoms
There are certain conditions, events, and other issues that your dentist will need to evaluate including the following:
- Signs that the dentist notices – in some cases, there is little or no indication of a problem existing within the pulp. This requires the trained eye of a dentist and a series of X-rays.
- Symptoms you are having – discomfort accompanied by noticeable swelling is the primary symptom of a problem within the tooth. During your examination, our dentist will discuss your experience with you.
- Testing – once the suspect tooth or teeth have been identified by our dentist, they will perform certain tests in order to confirm their findings and suspicions.
In the majority of the cases that we have treated with endodontic or root canal therapy at Shine Dental Associates, the patient has experienced gum swelling and/or tenderness as well as pain ranging from slight to severe. When the pain is severe in nature, it can wake you in the middle of deep sleep. Additionally, swelling ranges from minor to very pronounced but it is not always apparent in every case.
If you have noticed any of the above signs or symptoms, we urge you to contact Shine Dental Associates immediately and schedule an appointment for examination. Based on the severity of your condition, we will be able to determine the proper course of action, even if we do not recommend undergoing a root canal procedure.
