Even mild pain is still a micro-warning from your body that something’s not quite right. Even so, minor tooth pain is often dismissed when it comes and goes. In other instances, however, the body leaves no uncertainty that a problem isn't simply going to resolve on its own.
Signs you need a root canal include severe or lingering tooth pain, sensitivity to hot or cold that doesn't fade quickly, swelling, and tenderness when biting down. Any of these symptoms are worth having evaluated by a dentist in Prairieville or Baton Rouge, LA.
Common Symptoms of an Infected Tooth
An infected tooth often gives off a combination of warning signs, including:
- Persistent sharp or throbbing pain
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swelling in the gums or face
- A small bump on the gums resembling a pimple (an abscess)
- Darkening of a tooth, even when not accompanied by pain
Distinguishing Normal Sensitivity From a Real Problem
How to distinguish a real problem requiring a root canal from everyday sensitivity? After all, brief discomfort after eating something cold is common, and usually harmless. However, pain that pops up with minimal exposure, lingers for 30 seconds or more, or wakes you up at night points to something deeper. Oftentimes it means inflammation or infection inside the tooth's pulp that requires treatment.
What Happens If You Wait
Left untreated, a dental infection doesn't stay contained. Bacteria can spread into surrounding bone and tissue, leading to abscesses, tooth loss, bone loss, and a more complex and costly treatment.
How Dr. Palm Evaluates Your Symptoms
To determine whether you need a root canal, Dr. Daniel Palm combines a clinical exam with diagnostic tools like x-rays and cold or percussion tests. These help assess whether a tooth's pulp is infected and root canal therapy is necessary, or if more conservative treatment will suffice.
Reliable Root Canal Therapy in Prairieville and Baton Rouge, LA
If you're experiencing any warning signs suggesting that you may need root canal therapy, contact Dr. Daniel Palm and the experienced and skilled Palm Family Dentistry team to schedule an evaluation.