A hot cocoa on a winter’s night or an iced tea on a hot summer’s day should be refreshing. But if you struggle with pain and sensitivity to hot or cold, the thought of your favorite hot or cold drinks might have you wincing in pain. Root canal therapy may be the treatment you need to help ease your discomfort by stopping pain at the source.
Here’s how a root canal can get you back to drinking all your favorite hot and cold beverages.
The Root Cause of Sensitivity
One of the most common causes of tooth sensitivity is when the outer layer of the tooth becomes so damaged that layers of bacteria can reach the pulp, or the innermost part of the tooth. This exposure can cause the tooth to become inflamed or infected.
To reach the pulp, tooth decay needs to penetrate the enamel, the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel functions as a tooth’s hard protective layer. Once decay reaches the dentin, which is the next layer, you can start to feel sensitivity. The dentin contains tiny tubes called dentinal tubules that connect to the pulp of the tooth, allowing bacteria to travel to the inner tissue.
Once an infection reaches the pulp, you can experience pain and infection. The pulp contains blood vessels, tissues, and nerves that can become inflamed when infected. At this point, bacteria can infect the root canals, leading to swelling, bone loss, and spread of the infection. You might think the only way to stop the infection once it spreads is to remove the tooth. But intervention with root canal therapy could prevent serious complications, while preserving your natural tooth.
Sensitivity to hot or cold is just one sign you need a root canal. Other signs might include pain, especially while chewing, or a pimple-like bump on the gums, which might be an abscess. Abscesses caused by root canal infections won’t heal without dental intervention, such as root canal therapy. So if you want to stop pain and sensitivity caused by an infected tooth, you need to address the underlying cause.
Root Canal Therapy Stops Tooth Pain
So you realize it’s time to treat your pain at the source with root canal therapy. But how does this treatment actually work? Root canals stop sensitivity by removing the pulp, cleaning the inside canals, and sealing the tooth (often with a crown) to prevent bacteria from reentering.
The process is straightforward and minimizes discomfort. First, Dr. Matthew Keider will take detailed X-rays of your mouth to find a treatment plan. He will administer a local anesthetic to completely numb the area so you feel as comfortable as possible. If you’re nervous about the procedure, you can also request additional sedation options, like nitrous oxide, to help you stay relaxed throughout treatment. Once you’re fully numb, Dr. Keider will drill a small opening in the crown to reach the pulp. He will remove the pulp using specialized tools. Then, he will use irrigation solutions to disinfect the canal.
Once clean, he fills the empty canal with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. This seals off the canal to keep bacteria from re-entering. To protect the tooth, Dr. Keider will place a temporary filling or crown over the opening. In a follow-up visit, he will finish the restoration with a permanent filling or custom crown to restore strength and function to the tooth.
After he performs root canal therapy, your body can heal abscesses and infections in the gums on its own, but he might prescribe antibiotics if the infection has spread. While you might experience discomfort or sensitivity for a few days after, soreness typically subsides within three days, and most patients fully recover in two weeks.
Schedule a Root Canal Today
If hot or cold drinks make you flinch, it could be a sign of something more serious, such as an infection deep within your tooth. When bacteria reach the pulp, they can cause inflammation and infection that won’t go away on its own. Fortunately, root canal therapy can treat the problem at its source by removing the infection, preserving your natural tooth, and helping you feel like yourself again.
At Keider DDS, our goal is to save the teeth whenever possible. Nothing functions or feels quite the same, and keeping your tooth helps maintain your bite, jaw health, and overall comfort. Root canal therapy makes that possible. Dr. Keider is here to apply his decades of experience to perform quality root canal treatments, prioritizing your comfort throughout the procedure and addressing the root cause of any surrounding inflammation or infection.
Our team is here to make the process as straightforward and comfortable as we can. So, if you’re ready to eat, drink, and smile without pain, contact our office to schedule a personalized consultation.
