Signs You May Need a Root Canal

What your dentist in Portage and the Kalamazoo area wants you to know

Dental pain is the worst, but there is a way you can remove tooth pain for good! The answer is a root canal, the state-of-the-art way to get rid of dental pain but still keep your tooth. So, how do you know if you need a root canal? Dr. Richard Oppenlander in Portage, MI wants to share the facts about root canal therapy. He proudly serves the residents of Portage and Kalamazoo in Southwest Michigan and he can help you too.

Root canals are an endodontic procedure, meaning the procedure involves working inside your tooth. You may need a root canal due to deep dental decay that has reached the innermost area of your tooth, an area called the pulp chamber. When pulp tissue becomes diseased and infected, it causes inflammation and pressure inside your tooth resulting in severe pain.

During a root canal, an opening is made at the top of your tooth, and the diseased tissue is withdrawn from your tooth through the opening. A sedative filling is placed, which eliminates the inflammation and pressure. After a week or two, the sedative is removed and replaced with an inert material, and your tooth is sealed up.

Dental decay is just one reason you might need a root canal, but dental trauma due to clenching, grinding or an injury can also result in the need for a root canal. You need to be able to recognize the signs you may need a root canal, which include:

• Chronic, throbbing pain that doesn’t go away
• Stabbing pain when you eat or drink hot or cold foods and beverages
• Radiating pain that spreads to your jaws or face
• Redness and swelling of the tissue around a tooth
• Drainage or pus coming out of the tissue around a tooth

You may notice the signs and think you may need a root canal, but the only person who will know for sure is your dentist. That’s why it’s important to seek out Dr. Oppenlander at the first sign of trouble. He will take x-rays and do vitality and thermal testing to determine if a root canal is what you need.

For more information about root canal treatment and other restorative and cosmetic dental services call Dr. Oppenlander serving the residents of Portage and Kalamazoo in Southwest Michigan. Call today!