Canal Side Family Dental is a 42 North Dental Care, PLLC practice and is owned and operated by dentists Dr. Samuel Shames, DDM. and Dr. Ronald Weissman, DDM. Gentle Dental is supported by 42 North Dental, LLC, a dental support organization that provides non-clinical administrative and business support services to the practice. 42 North Dental, LLC does not own or operate the dental practice or employ dentists to provide dental services. Find more information about 42 North Dental, LLC and the dental practices it supports at 42northdental.com.
You may strive to take excellent care of your teeth. Therefore, if your mouth feels normal when you visit your dentist for a routine checkup, you may expect nothing but good news. It may come as a shock when you learn that you need root canal therapy! Can you need a root canal even if you are not in pain? This blog post explains some signs that treatment is necessary. It also touches on why a root canal can be needed even when no obvious symptoms are present.
Common Indications for Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is the standard treatment used to address an infection in the pulp (innermost layer) of a tooth. Such infections can cause an enormous, debilitating toothache. If you are experiencing such a symptom, you may be eager to accept any treatment recommendations from your dentist.
However, pain is not the only sign that a root canal is necessary. Here are some other possible indications:
- A tooth is darker than the ones around it.
- There is visible damaged to a tooth, such as a chip or crack.
- There is a pimple-like bump on the gums.
- You are experiencing extreme, lingering sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure
No Pain? You Still Might Need Root Canal Therapy
Even if you do not currently have any signs or symptoms that point to a dental problem, your dentist might still recommend root canal therapy if any of the following are true:
- There is a relatively new infection. An X-ray could reveal a problem in your tooth’s pulp that has not yet advanced to the point where it can cause pain. Prompt treatment could prevent a future toothache.
- You have a dead tooth. When the nerve insidea tooth dies, it can no longer send pain signals to the brain. However, there could still be an infection. Without treatment, the infection could spread into nearby tissues, damaging your oral health and possibly causing systemic illness.
- You need a crown. If a tooth is badly damaged, it might not be strong enough to support a crown. Root canal therapy can be used to clean out the tooth’s interior and allow your dentist to place a post inside it. The post can then support a new restoration.
Do Not Wait to Be in Pain
There is nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion if you are a little skeptical about your dentist’s recommendation that you undergo root canal therapy. However, you should bear in mind that if you delay necessary treatment for too long, you could risk losing your tooth altogether. In rare cases, untreated tooth infections have even led to life-threatening complications.
When you learn that you need a root canal, the news may seem to come out of nowhere. However, you can trust that your dentist has your best interests at heart.
Meet the Practice
Root canal therapy is one of many services offered at Canal Side Family Dental. If you are curious about this treatment or other procedures that we may use to support your oral health, we welcome you to ask questions. Get in touch with our expert team at 508-375-3149.