A root canal can be an expensive dental procedure, but the benefits are often worth it. Not only will you get a strong and healthy smile, but you’ll also save your tooth from being pulled by a dentist in Midtown Manhattan, NY.
Root canal therapy is required when the pulp within a tooth has become infected. This pulp is the living tissue inside the tooth and it’s highly susceptible to infection. After the infection takes hold, you may start feeling sharp pain or sensitivity when you bite down. There can also be swelling and even tenderness in your gums.
Here are 3 main reasons for you to consider getting root canal therapy.
- Decay has reached the tooth pulp
When the decay process has reached the tooth’s root, you will start experiencing the symptoms. Your dentist can usually identify an infection that has already taken hold during regular checkups, but sometimes tooth decay is so advanced that it reaches the pulp before he can spot it. Too much acidity in your diet can be a contributing factor to tooth decay. Carbonated drinks and citrus fruits are two of the main causes.
Root canal therapy is an effective way for you to treat tooth decay and prevent further infections from developing. You are having a tooth drilled. The dentist is chipping away at your enamel and filling it with mercury and other chemicals to harden the tooth.
- Infection or abscess has developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
The infection and abscess development can be quite advanced when you reach this stage. It may be tested by x-ray or radiography, but if the dentist cannot locate the infection within an X-ray or radiograph, then you probably need root canal therapy. You will notice swelling in your gums, tenderness, and pain. If the swelling is severe and you have a high temperature, it could be a sign that an infection is forming at the root tip.
- Injury or trauma to the tooth
Many dental problems start with a small injury or trauma to the tooth. There are several kinds of trauma, such as getting caught in a strong pull of dental equipment or falling hard on a tooth’s surface. In most cases, you will notice minor pain and some swelling near the injury site. A slight crack in your tooth’s enamel will also become more visible when it’s infected and starts to decay more quickly.
