Signs You May Need a Root Canal

A root canal is usually the solution to infection deep within a tooth. These infections happen when a crack or area of decay breaches the root canalenamel and let bacteria infiltrate the soft tissues inside. As you can imagine, this can cause a lot of discomfort. A root canal from one of our general dentists at Dental Associates of Shelton in Shelton, CT, Dr. Adrian Basu or Dr. Michael Caserta, stops the infection by cleaning out the tooth completely and replacing the damaged tissues with a rubber filling. Below, our dentists have outlined a couple of the ways you may be able to tell if you need a root canal.

Pain

A toothache is never comfortable, but a tooth that needs a root canal often emits a distinct type of pain. Many of our patients who require root canals experience a sharp pain when biting down. This is usually due to the outside of the tooth moving against the infected inner tissues, in particular, the nerve endings. With the inside of the tooth removed, your Shelton dentist can repair the outside of the tooth by placing a crown on top of it.

Sensitivity

Temporary tooth sensitivity can happen after you whiten your teeth, but it typically only takes a few days before they're back to normal. If you've noticed a lingering, even painful sensitivity in one specific area, you may need a root canal from your Shelton general dentist. Those sensitive tissues we've mentioned are normally protected by the enamel, but trauma or decay may cause them to react to hot or cold food and drinks that didn't affect them before.

If you've been experiencing these symptoms, contact Dental Associates of Shelton for an examination with one of our general dentists. We look forward to helping you!