Do I Need a Root Canal? Understand Your Symptoms

If you have a toothache, you may ask yourself, "Do I need a Root Canal?".  Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected with bacteria. There are many reasons why you might need root canal treatment, including: deep tooth decay, faulty fillings, tooth cracks, trauma and repeated dental procedures on a tooth.  The symptoms of a toothache may vary, but treatment to fix the problem is often the same.

Do I Need a Root Canal?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may need root canal treatment to relieve your pain and save your tooth from extraction.

Lingering Temperature Sensitivity

A lingering sensitivity to hot or cold food may be a sign of needing a root canal due to an infection in the root.

Constant, Dull Ache 

Constant pain that is not stimulated by temperature changes or chewing.

Tooth Discoloration

A gray or black appearance of the tooth could indicate an infection inside your tooth. If this is the case, root canal treatment is required to treat the underlying infection and internal tooth bleaching may be required to restore your original tooth color.

Pain When Chewing

If you have pain when biting down or chewing, you may have a fracture that allows bacteria into your tooth.

Ache in Surrounding Bone 

Experiencing an ache in the bone surrounding a tooth may indicates the spread of infection from inside your tooth.

Swollen Gums

If your gums are painful and swollen, this may be an indication that infection is leaking from inside your tooth.

Find an Endodontist to Alleviate your Pain

Call us to schedule an appointment if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.

If your general dentist has told you that your tooth nerve is diseased, root canal treatment is required. Traditional root canal treatment requires removing the infected tissue in the root canals. During this process, special files and treatment fluids are placed in the canal to remove the diseased tissue and disinfect the root canal.