{"id":179,"date":"2021-10-01T05:44:50","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T05:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sterlingdentalclinic.com\/blog\/?p=179"},"modified":"2025-02-26T10:14:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T04:44:15","slug":"how-to-know-if-you-need-a-root-canal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sterlingdentalclinic.com\/blog\/how-to-know-if-you-need-a-root-canal\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Know If You Need a Root Canal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Root canals have a reputation as being \u201cthe worst,\u201d but today\u2019s root canals are not as painful as they once were. No one wants <\/em>a root canal, but unfortunately, the problems that lead to a root canal don\u2019t go away on their own, so they are necessary. This is why Root Canal Awareness Week is so important. Knowing if you need a root canal is the first and best step toward relieving your tooth pain and saving your natural tooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Root Canal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Root canal treatment is a procedure that repairs and saves a damaged tooth. It is performed when the pulp, the blood vessels and nerves inside your tooth, becomes infected or damaged. This damage can come from a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. The term \u201croot canal<\/a>\u201d comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth\u2019s root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Root Canal Pain (It\u2019s Not So Bad)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people avoid root canals because they are afraid of the pain. In reality, any pain that people experience from a root canal is from the infected tooth. The procedure itself is painless. Root canals have improved drastically over time, and contrary to popular belief, a root canal is no more painful than a filling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do have pain after your root canal, it usually peaks 12 to 24 hours after the procedure. Keep your head elevated while sleeping for the first couple of nights and take whatever pain medication that your dentist recommends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Root Canal Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be on the lookout for these root canal symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n