If you're experiencing severe pain when chewing, biting, or just touching your tooth, you might have an infection.1 An infected tooth is not only painful, but it can also spread to the gums, sinuses, jaw, and other parts of the body, causing serious health problems if left untreated.2 Your dentist in Vero Beach, FL, can best diagnose the cause of your toothache and recommend a treatment plan, but if your tooth is severely infected, then they're likely to suggest a root canal.3 Read on to learn about how a root canal treatment can alleviate your pain.
What Is a Root Canal?
Inside every one of your teeth, you have a jelly-like pulp tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.4 If bacteria from your infection reach the pulp, it causes inflammation, and a pocket of pus can develop. A root canal treatment removes any infected pulp tissue from inside your tooth to save the natural tooth.5 Permanent teeth can survive without pulp as they receive nutrients from the surrounding tissues. However, if the infection is too severe, your dentist might not be able to perform the procedure and may need to extract the tooth.
Signs You Need a Root Canal
In addition to a toothache, you might also be experiencing some of the following symptoms:
- Swollen gums or jaw
- A loose or discolored tooth
- A pimple or boil on your gums
- Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks
- Darkening or decaying gums6
- Throbbing or a feeling of pressure on your tooth7
Tooth pain sometimes comes and goes, which can make it tempting to think about delaying treatment. Unfortunately, it could just be a sign that your nerves in the pulp aren't working properly anymore. However, the bacteria can continue to spread, and your pain will likely resurface once the infection reaches other teeth or your jaw.
What to Expect During Treatment
During the root canal procedure, your dentist will numb the area and create a small hole in your tooth to reach the pulp. They will then remove any inflamed or infected pulp and carefully clean and shape the inside of your root canal, before filling and sealing the space. Your dentist may be able to seal the tooth with a simple filling, or they might have to place a crown to protect the tooth and restore its function.
Treatment time varies depending on the complexity of the procedure you need, but it's usually around one to two hours. In some cases, a root canal can be completed in a single visit, but sometimes it needs multiple follow-up appointments. Your dentist can recommend how many appointments would make the most sense for you based on the condition of your tooth and the surrounding gums.
How Quickly Will the Pain Subside?
It's normal to experience some mild pain or discomfort after a root canal treatment.8 Your dentist will advise what over-the-counter or prescription medications you can take to manage this. However, as the infection will have been cleared and the nerve tissue has been removed, you're likely to notice your pain subsiding soon after treatment.9
Applying an ice pack to your cheek or keeping your head elevated when sleeping can help prevent the affected area from throbbing while it recovers from the infection.10 As you heal, chewing and biting should gradually be more comfortable, but you'll want to stick to soft foods in the beginning, like yoghurt, mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs.11
Finding the Right Dentist
If you're struggling with persistent tooth pain, then your first step should be to find a dental professional for expert advice. Finding a local dentist with convenient hours means you'll be able to schedule an appointment at a time that works for you.12 You can start by simply searching online for a "dentist near me" to find highly reviewed dentists in Vero Beach and ask for an appointment.
The Bottom Line
A painful toothache that doesn't go away is often a sign of a more serious problem, so it's smart to schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible. If you need a root canal, rest assured that it's a safe and effective treatment that can both treat the source of infection and relieve your pain.
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