“Root canal” is a term most are familiar with but few understand. A root canal is actually an anatomical space inside each tooth. The dental procedure that most people envision when they hear “root canal” is actually a root canal treatment. When the soft tissue living inside the tooth (nerves and blood vessels called the dental pulp) becomes infected or irreversibly damaged, it must be removed. This tissue does not have the ability to heal itself or regenerate, so the only “cure” is to remove it.
A root canal treatment involves the removal of the dental pulp, thorough cleaning of the canal system, and sealing the root with a biocompatible material. Root canal treatments allow patients to save teeth that would otherwise require extraction.
We mentioned earlier that root canal treatments are necessary to remove dental pulp that is either infected or irreversibly damaged. These six signs that you might need a root canal are simply signs of an infected or damaged dental pulp.
Extreme Sensitivity to Cold
When the nerve inside a tooth is damaged, either by infection or trauma, it may respond to cold with an exaggerated sensitivity. In particular, teeth with irreversible inflammation of the nerve will usually have a lingering response. This means that even though the cold stimulus is no longer in the mouth, the tooth still aches.
A normal, healthy nerve can feel sensitive to ice water or other cold stimulus, but it should return to normal after you remove the cold. If taking one sip of ice cold water causes pain in a tooth for thirty seconds or more, you may have irreversible pulp damage.
Sensitivity to Heat, Soothed by Cold
As a nerve dies, it begins to malfunction and change the signals it sends to the brain. If you notice a change in the response to temperatures, this could be a sign of irreversible nerve damage. We see this very commonly in teeth that once were extremely sensitive to cold. Then they experience a change in which the tooth is sensitive to hot temperatures and cold sensations actually make it feel better.
When your hot coffee causes pain, and a quick swish of ice water soothes, you can assume there is a nerve problem.
Unstimulated Sharp, Shooting Pains
Another symptom created by a dying nerve is the feeling of random sharp pains in the tooth, especially without any stimulus. By this, we mean that you are not eating or drinking anything, and the tooth just starts hurting unexpectedly. We call this “spontaneous pain”. This pain can come in sharp bursts or zings, or it can occur as a dull ache.
These incidents of unstimulated pain, especially when repeated throughout the day and night, are a sign of the nerve going haywire. This symptom typically means the nerve is dying, and you need a root canal.
Swelling in the Gums near the Root
If the tissues inside a tooth become infected with the bacteria from a large cavity or crack, that bacterial infection will eventually spread through the tip of the root into the surrounding jawbone and gums. This spreading infection will lead to a swelling in the gums near the end of that tooth’s root. Swellings of this type will usually cause pain when you touch the tooth or the swelling itself. Usually, it will also hurt to chew.
These infections are at risk for spreading into other areas of the body, so you must take them seriously! In rare situations, patients have died from ignoring this type of infection.
A Pimple-Like Blister Draining Pus
In some cases, the infection will not swell, but will instead create an opening through the gums to allow the infection to drain. We call this a fistula. It usually appears as a small pimple-like blister that will ooze pus or blood when we apply pressure to it.
To the surprise of many, this type of infection often does not hurt. This is because the draining prevents any buildup of pressure under the gums. The absence of pain does not mean that this is a less important problem! The drainage can stop at any time, leading to a buildup of pressure and pain with a risk for spreading infection.
Grey or Dark Yellow Discoloration
There are scenarios in which the nerve in a tooth dies slowly and without causing any symptoms. One of the visible signs it may cause is a darkening of the tooth. This occurs quite frequently in front teeth that experienced trauma in the past. When one tooth has a grey or dark yellow tinge, it probably has internal changes in the nerve chamber.
You should see your dentist for testing of any teeth showing this type of discoloration to determine the state of the pulp. “Catching” a dead nerve early allows for early treatment and prevention of dangerous infections!
More Questions about Root Canals?
Call Rockland Dental Specialists today to schedule a consultation with one of our root canal experts. We can answer any question you have and schedule you for treatment if you need a root canal.
