Root canal is a dental procedure which is used to give a new life to your decaying tooth. When a tooth is infected and the decay gets into the soft core or pulp of the teeth, it becomes inflamed. The situation can become gruesome and can completely damage your teeth and it even becomes necrotic.

When the soft core or pulp is damaged, it starts decaying and the bacteria begin to multiply ten-folds. The bacteria can cause severe infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that can begin to form on the root of the tooth. It may also cause swelling on other parts of the face which can come down to the neck. If not timely treated, the infection can also cause bone loss around the tip of the root.

During root canal procedure, the pulp that is highly infected or decayed is completely removed and the inside portion is cleaned and sealed. Root canal can be performed by a dentist or in certain cases, you need a root canal specialist, known as endodontist.

Generally, a dentist does the following four things, to give your teeth a new life:

● Remove the pulp that is infected with bacteria.

● Remove the root or nerve if the infection is severe

● Clean the area with antibiotics

● The empty roots are filled up using foreign subjects.

● The hollow area is sealed to prevent any further decay

Root canal procedure saves your tooth from decaying further, but at the same time makes it fragile and weak. Before this procedure, the patient is given anaesthesia to numb the infected area, because it is painful to get a root canal done and it may even cause slight discomfort for a few days.

How to know if you need a root canal?

When the infection begins to develop, it gives several signs and symptoms to watch out for. Any delay in getting the root canal procedure done can have serious repercussions. If you experience any one of the following symptoms, you should visit your dentist, because the sooner your tooth will be treated, the better it is.

1. Severe and persistent pain: If you are experiencing constant pain while chewing or biting and the pain is persistent and does not really go away with any sort of numbing medicines or painkillers, it can be an indication that your tooth is decaying and you immediately need to treat this with a root canal procedure.

2. Sensitivity to hot or cold food items: Sensitivity should not be mixed with the problem of tooth decay, but it could still be one of the reasons, citing that your tooth is infected. The pain can be usually felt as a sharp pain and can persist for a long period of time. If the pain continues even when you are not eating anything too hot or too cold, then perhaps it is time for you to get a root canal done.

3. Swelling in the gums: If you have developed swelling over the gums, this indicates that your tooth below the gums is infected and you may need a root canal. The swelling generally does not go away and it hurts when you touch the swollen area. Swelling is generally caused due to acid released by the dead pulp tissue.

4. Discoloration of tooth: When a tooth is infected it causes the breakdown of internal tissue which also causes severe damage to the roots. This causes the tooth to become greyish-black in colour which is also known as discoloration of the tooth. If you are experiencing a change in colour of your tooth, it is a sign that you need to immediately see a dentist.

5. Loosening of tooth: When a tooth is severely infected, the nerve gets severely damaged and it is a serious issue which is also termed as pulpal necrosis. This causes the tooth to become loose. The infection results in acidic waste which softens the root of the tooth, causing it to lose its mobility. It is an indication that you immediately need to get the root canal procedure done.

If you observe any of the above stated signs and symptoms, do not ignore and consult your dentist for appropriate treatment.

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When Do You Need A Root Canal?