What Are The Signs That Indicate You May Need Root Canal Therapy?

Finding out if a tooth requires root canal or endodontic therapy isn’t always straightforward and easy. There are many signs and symptoms that you may need root canal treatment. A final diagnosis of your tooth’s requirement for endodontic therapy should come from a qualified dentist.

Your dentist will collect information from several sources before deciding if you need such treatment. Dental x-ray evaluation and clinical testing of the affected tooth are important for this purpose. The dentist will take the x-ray and examine the affected tooth to diagnose the real cause of the issue.

This article provides information on some of the signs that indicate you may need root canal therapy.

Persistent Pain – Pain is an indicator that something is wrong with the root of your tooth. If you cannot drink and eat without feeling pain, you should visit your family dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will inspect the affected tooth to see if the nerves and blood vessels have become inflamed due to infection. Anti-biotics can give temporary relief for this kind of pain. Your dentist will recommend root canal therapy to prevent further infection and pain.

Swollen Gum Area – Swollen gums are a sign of a problem beneath the gum tissue. Your dentist will inspect the gum tissue to see if inflammation is the cause for it. Root canal therapy is needed to solve this type of issue.

Prolonged Sensitivity – If the tooth hurts when you put pressure on it, and the sensitivity prolongs for weeks and months, root canal therapy might be the solution. Prolonged sensitivity is due to a damaged root. This won’t heal on its own. Root canal therapy is effective in cases like this.

Deep Decay – When deep decay sets in within the base of a tooth, brushing and flossing won’t help. When a cavity is neglected for too long, it will spread into the nerve and root of the tooth. Root canal therapy is needed to solve such a problem.

If you believe that you have a dental issue that can be solved only with root canal therapy, you should call us at Stony Brook Family Dentistry. We can help heal the affected tooth with root canal therapy.