What Signs Reveal the Need for Root Canal Treatment?

Whenever possible, saving a tooth and its natural pulp is preferable over extraction and other treatments. However, there are certain situations when teeth may become compromised enough that intervention is warranted. Still, saving the natural tooth itself is ideal. For patients with severely damaged, cracked, compromised, or infected teeth, a root canal may be the solution for addressing the problem, restoring the health and strength of the tooth, and avoiding extraction. In this blog, premier Dallas, TX dentist Dr. Salvator La Mastra and the experienced team at Hamlett & La Mastra, DDS discuss what signs and symptoms may mean a root canal is appropriate for you and answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding root canal therapy.

What is a root canal?

Root canal therapy is performed to remove the pulp of a compromised tooth. The pulp contains the blood vessel structures, nerve, and other “live” components of a tooth. When a tooth becomes damaged or when an infection reaches the innermost part of the tooth, patients can experience severe symptoms and face the risk of more complicated dental problems if left untreated. By removing the pulp and nerve of the tooth, and covering the tooth with a crown, a root canal can provide relief from painful symptoms and restore the strength, function, and appearance of the damaged tooth.

How do I know if I need a root canal?

One of the only ways to know with certainty whether you may require a root canal vs. a filling or another dental procedure is to schedule a consultation with your dentist. During your private consultation for a Dallas, TX root canal treatment, Dr. La Mastra will thoroughly examine your tooth and surrounding structures and tissues. Diagnostic tests, including manual tests, imaging studies, and others, will then be performed to further assess the extent of damage and/or infection, allowing Dr. La Mastra to determine whether a root canal will be appropriate and effective for you. While this formal evaluation is a necessary step to ensure you are a candidate for root canal therapy, there are some telling signs and symptoms that may mean you could benefit from a root canal. These include:

• Sharp pain in the tooth
• Throbbing pain in the tooth
• Tooth is hypersensitive to heat or cold
• Pain when eating, chewing, or biting
• Swelling at the gumline
• Visible sore at the gumline
• Persistent toothache
• Discolored tooth following dental injury

How soon will I feel better after a root canal?

While you may experience some soreness and sensitivity in the oral tissues following a root canal, the pain specifically associated with the damaged tooth should subside almost immediately after treatment, as the nerve of the tooth will have been removed. After just a few days, most patients are back to eating and drinking normally with no more dental pain.

Get the rapid tooth pain relief you deserve with root canal therapy in Dallas, TX

If you are experiencing a sharp toothache or another sign or symptom that you suspect may require root canal therapy, call Hamlett & La Mastra, DDS to schedule your private consultation with Dr. Salvator La Mastra in Dallas, TX. We look forward to helping you regain your comfort and dental function as quickly and conveniently as possible with our advanced root canal treatment options.