Signs It’s Time for Root Canal Therapy

Root canals are often viewed as scary, painful treatments. However, root canal therapy is a common dental procedure used to treat a severely decayed or infected tooth to save it from extraction. Root canal therapy not only saves your infected tooth, but it also protects surrounding teeth by keeping the infection from spreading. At Augusta Endodontic Center, we offer safe, painless root canal treatment to residents of Augusta, Georgia, and surrounding communities.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to decay, oral infections and other problems with your teeth. As decay grows, it can cause substantial damage to your tooth. Once decay has entered a tooth’s pulp and infected the blood vessels and nerves, root canal treatment is the only way to save the tooth. Dr. Emmanuel Ngoh will remove the infected pulp, cleanse out the tooth canals and seal it with a special filling to keep the infection from spreading. Then we’ll place a dental crown over your tooth to seal it from future infection.

Signs You Need a Root Canal

Most people don’t realize they have a dental problem until they experience pain, which is often an indicator of severe decay. Persistent pain is usually the first sign that you may need root canal treatment. Additional signs include: 

• Swollen Gums/Abscess – Inflamed gums are often a sign of an infected tooth. A raised bump or pus-filled pimple on your gums is a sign of an abscessed tooth that needs root canal treatment
• Chipped or Cracked Tooth – Chips or cracks in your tooth can expose your nerves and open your tooth to infection. Left unchecked, this infection can enter your bloodstream and spread to other body parts. Through root canal therapy, Dr. Ngoh can nip the infection in the bud to keep it from spreading
• Hot/Cold Sensitivity – The sharp pain you feel when consuming hot or cold foods and drinks could be due to infected nerves, which can only be treated with root canal therapy
• Tooth Discoloration – Tooth discoloration can occur for several reasons, one of which could be nerve damage from an oral infection. A checkup by your Augusta dentist can reveal if you have an infected tooth that needs endodontic treatment

If it appears you need a root canal, don’t panic! We offer safe, painless endodontic treatment that can save your tooth and restore your oral health. At Augusta Endodontic Center, you can look forward to a positive, stress-free dental experience.

Infection after Root Canal Treatment

Although rare, it’s possible to get an infection after root canal therapy due to bacteria entering tooth tissues during treatment, failure to cleanse all the canals of harmful bacteria, or delay in crowning your tooth, allowing bacteria to re-enter. Fever, pain and swelling are symptoms of post-root canal infection. If you do get an infection, we’ll prescribe antibiotics to provide prompt and effective treatment. 

To schedule a consultation for root canal therapy at Augusta Endodontic Center in Augusta, GA, contact Dr. Emmanuel Ngoh at (706) 800-9118.

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