Your teeth are strong, but poor dental care can cause the protective enamel that encases your teeth to break down. When this happens, your teeth become sensitive and more vulnerable to fractures and cavities. This is when your tooth’s root can become infected. Each tooth has soft tissue that runs through the tooth’s canals. The tissue is made up of nerves and blood vessels, which provide vital nourishment to the tooth. When a cavity or fracture is left untreated, that pulpy, soft tissue becomes infected and causes pain – that’s when to get a root canal.

When it comes to root canals, myths abound, and you’ve probably heard them all. It’s been said that root canals hurt, that they cause disease, and that you only need to get one when a tooth is painful. One myth even alleged that root canals cause cancer and other diseases. With stories like that swirling around the world of dental care, it’s no wonder people dread root canals. But there’s good news! All those myths have been busted. So if your dentist sits you down to talk about when to get a root canal, don’t run for the door.

Most of the time, patients notice signs that a tooth requires dental care before their dentist recommends a root canal. The most common symptoms include the following:
Pain when chewing or brushing
Lasting sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Tenderness around the tooth and gum
Discoloration of the tooth
Swelling of the gum

Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms, and it can be difficult to know when to get a root canal by dental endodontic instruments. That’s why it is important to schedule regular visits to the dentist and practice healthy habits for good teeth. You can’t see what is happening inside your mouth, but a dentist can.

Root canals are a common procedure used to save your tooth once infection sets in. If untreated, the infection can spread and cause damage to surrounding bone. Once this happens, there’s a greater risk of losing your tooth.

To remove the infection and stop it from spreading, a small opening is created at the top of the tooth. From this opening, the tooth’s nerve is removed from the canal, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned before the canals are filled with a rubber-like material. Filling in the now-empty canals helps to seal them from future infection. Once complete, a temporary filling is placed onto the tooth until a permanent filling or crown is ready.

If you’ve been suffering from tooth pain or sensitivity, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist and learn when to get a root canal. It could protect your tooth and save you a lot of pain and suffering.