A toothache can make it tough to focus on anything but feeling better, and you might wonder right away if you need a root canal. Not every sore tooth needs one, though. Your dentist needs to find out what’s causing the pain before recommending a filling, root canal, bite adjustment, gum treatment, or another fix.
At Dentistry By Design, we evaluate tooth pain and offer root canal treatment in Richardson, TX when inflammation or infection reaches the soft tissue inside your tooth.
What Can Cause Tooth Pain Besides an Infected Nerve?
Pain doesn’t always point to just one dental problem. The American Association of Endodontists explains that discomfort can come from decay, a loose filling, a crack, exposed roots, grinding, or damage to the pulp.
How your pain acts can still give us helpful clues. Let us know if it starts when you bite, sticks around after something hot or cold, throbs on its own, or comes with swelling. We’ll use an exam and dental imaging to see if the pulp is involved.
Which Symptoms May Point to Root Canal Treatment?
You may need a root canal if the pulp is inflamed or infected, but the tooth can still be saved. The American Dental Association explains that deep decay, repeated dental work, a fracture, or an injury can let bacteria reach this inner tissue.
Symptoms that deserve a prompt dental evaluation include:
- severe pain when you chew or bite
- sensitivity that lingers after heat or cold
- swelling or tenderness around the tooth
- a pimple-like bump on the gum
- darkening or visible damage to the tooth
Root canal symptoms like these don’t confirm what treatment you need, but they do mean your tooth needs a closer look.
What Happens During a Root Canal Evaluation?
We’ll start by talking with you about your symptoms and checking the painful tooth. Depending on what we see, we may take digital X-rays, test how your tooth reacts to temperature or pressure, and check the gum tissue around it.
If the pulp is inflamed or infected, endodontic treatment removes the affected tissue from inside your tooth. We’ll clean and shape the canals, then fill and seal them. You may need a crown or another restoration afterward to protect your tooth.
Dr. Brad Tiner provides endodontic care in Richardson and has completed more than 200 hours of endodontic training. He also uses a dental microscope to help locate and treat the small internal canals. Learn more about Dr. Tiner and the Dentistry By Design doctors.
FAQ
Can a filling repair a tooth that needs a root canal?
A filling can fix damage in the hard outer part of your tooth, but it can’t treat inflamed or infected pulp. We’ll need to check your tooth before recommending either treatment.
Can a tooth need a root canal if it doesn’t hurt?
Yes. Your tooth can have pulp damage even if it doesn’t hurt all the time. Dental exams and imaging can sometimes catch a problem before symptoms get worse.
Get Clear Answers About Tooth Pain in Richardson, TX
If you wait for a toothache to get worse, you could end up in pain longer and with fewer treatment options. At Dentistry By Design, we’ll find the cause, show you what we see, and explain whether you need a simple repair or root canal treatment in Richardson, TX.
Call our Richardson office to schedule an evaluation and find out how you can relieve your pain while protecting your tooth.