It’s a pretty safe bet to say that nobody wants a root canal. However, root canals are a common dental procedure that have an undeserved bad reputation. Root canal therapy is centered on improving your dental health and restoring your smile. Here’s more about when a root canal is necessary.
Reasons to Get a Root Canal
Root canal treatment gets its name because it involves going into the root canal of the tooth and cleaning out any infection that’s there. That is where the soft tissue is. Infection can occur if there is severe tooth decay that has moved deep within the tooth. Damage to the soft tissue can also be the result of some kind of dental trauma where the tooth was damaged.
How Do I Know if I Need a Root Canal?
The best way to know if you need a root canal or not is to consult your dentist. There are lots of different restorative treatments available. Dr. Bethea will discuss which procedure will restore your dental health. It could be that it’s best to try something else before moving to a root canal. The ultimate goal of a root canal is to eliminate infection and decay and save your natural tooth.
Signs of a Root Canal
There are some common signs that you may need root canal therapy. These symptoms include sensitivity or pain when biting and chewing, swollen gums or cheeks around a specific tooth, a tooth that’s darkened in color, and a persistent, unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Root Canal Therapy in Columbia, SC
If you have any of the symptoms we just mentioned and you think you may need a root canal, then we advise you to make an appointment at Bethea Family Dentistry as soon as possible. The sooner you treat dental pain, the better. Often pain that is ignored leads to a problem that is much harder to fix later on. Ignoring the situation can also result in the loss of a tooth. Contact us today to plan your visit.