The thought of a root canal often makes many people uneasy, but ignoring warning signs can lead to much worse dental problems.
A root canal is one of the most misunderstood dental procedures. In reality, it's a tooth-saving treatment that relieves pain rather than causing it. Here are five signs it may be time to see your dentist.
1. Persistent, throbbing tooth pain. Pain that doesn't fade or that wakes you up at night usually points to an infected pulp.
2. Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers well after the trigger is gone.
3. Swelling or tenderness in the gum near a specific tooth, sometimes with a small bump or pimple.
4. A darkening or greying tooth compared with its neighbours.
5. Pain when biting or a loose feeling in an adult tooth.
The good news: modern root canal therapy is painless and often completed in one or two visits. Delaying only allows the infection to spread — and can turn a saveable tooth into an extraction.
