What is a root canal?
Understanding root canals is the first step towards being able to recognize the early signs that you may need one. So what exactly is a root canal?
This is the name of the procedure that you are going to understand, which means that you are in dire need of having the infection and decay cleaned out of your tooth. You end up needing this cleaning procedure when the decay has reached your tooth’s pulp and root (going past the enamel and dentin to the soft core of the tooth), hence why it is called a root canal: the dentist will work on cleaning the decay inside there.
You can end up having this procedure done by your dentist or a specialist called an endodontist. Generally speaking, you will be left with your natural tooth where it is, and due to the treatment, it will prevent further decay, but since the tooth will be fragile, a lot of the time you may end up needing a crown to cover it.
Now that we have established what root canals are, keep reading to discover the signs!
