A Henrico cosmetic dentist at Short Pump Dental is an expert at creating beautiful smiles, but what matters most to us—and hopefully to you —is the health of your mouth. That's why our family dentists offer root canals. It's a standard procedure that can alleviate your pain, save your tooth, and prevent infection from spreading. Let's discuss some signs that indicate it's time to schedule a visit.
1. Continuous Tooth Pain
Often, one of the first signs you'll experience from an infection, trauma to a nerve root, or severe decay is pain. While you may experience continuous discomfort, in some cases, it may worsen whenever you eat or drink. Biting down or chewing could exacerbate the pain.
2. Swelling or Tenderness Around the Tooth
As the infection, decay, or damage aggravates the nearby tissue, you may develop swelling or tenderness around the tooth. Sometimes, the swelling will extend to your jaw or face as the infection spreads.
3. Discoloration of the Tooth
When the nerve dies and the blood supply to the tooth stops, it may become discolored. In the early stages, it may appear yellow or brown. As it worsens, it may appear gray. The most advanced cases will cause the tooth to become dark brown or black. A healthy tooth naturally has a shine, but a tooth with a dead nerve might lose that sheen and look dull.
4. Bump on the Gums
You may feel a bump or pimple when you place your tongue over your gums near the tooth. If the affected tooth is toward the front, you may be able to see it. This bump stems from infection, and it may or may not contain pus. Either way, avoid attempting to pop it, as you could spread the disease.
5. A Loose Tooth
While gum disease and damage to a tooth can cause it to feel loose, the breakdown that occurs due to nerve death can soften the jawbone and cause a tooth to loosen. At this point, you should seek out the assistance of a Short Pump family dentist to address the underlying issue and stop it from worsening.
6. Sensitivity to Hot and Cold
Gum disease, tooth recession, and various other issues can cause sensitivity to cold or hot foods. However, whenever the tooth root dies, the inflammation or damage may be sensitive to temperature. The pain is often sharp and will linger after hot or cold exposure.
When you visit a Short Pump family dentist for tooth pain or any of the other symptoms, you'll receive a thorough examination, including a visual exam of the tooth and possibly a pulp vitality test to determine if the nerve is still alive. Based on the results, our dentist may recommend that you undergo a root canal treatment. As a Henrico cosmetic dentist, our practitioner can restore the tooth using a crown to make it blend naturally with your smile.
Schedule a visit to our dentist in Henrico, VA, today to know for sure if a root canal is necessary.