Signs you may need a Root Canal: What to Look For

Nobody wants to experience a toothache, but unfortunately dental pain is quite common. Roughly 1 in 4 adults report tooth pain in a given year, and If you ever do, it can help to understand what may be going on. Catching the signs early can prevent an infection from spreading, relieve pain sooner, and help preserve your natural teeth. Your symptoms offer an important clue about what is happening and can guide you toward booking a visit with a dentist, who will confirm the diagnosis with testing and x-rays.

How does a toothache begin?

To understand this, it helps to look at the anatomy of a tooth. The outermost shell of a tooth is made of enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. Underneath the enamel is dentin, a softer layer that cushions and supports the hard outer surface. The innermost portion of the tooth is the pulp, where all of the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels are located. When the pulp is inflamed, a root canal may be needed.

Despite enamel being the hardest substance in the body, it can still breakdown under attack from the bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria feed on the food that we eat every day, and produce acid that begins to erode the enamel. When we snack frequently, we never give the bacteria a break, and they continue to wear away at the enamel shell. Once they break through, the bacteria can rapidly progress through the softer dentin to reach the inner pulp. Here is where most toothaches occur. Other causes of inflammation to the pulp can also include fractures or cracks in the teeth, trauma, or even repeated dental work.

What to look for as inflammation progresses

So what exactly happens as bacteria travel to the nerve of a tooth, and what should you watch for? As inflammation progresses, it moves through stages. At first, this inflammation is reversible. You might notice sensitivity to something cold or sweet that quickly fades. At this stage, the tooth may be treatable without a root canal, often with a filling or sometimes a crown.

However, if the tooth continues to go untreated, the inflammation can become irreversible. At this point, symptoms may include:

• Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold that persists more than a few seconds
• Spontaneous or unprompted pain that occurs without a trigger
• Pain when biting or chewing
• Pain that isn’t relieved by any painkillers
• A bump or “pimple” on the gums.

If the infection continues to progress, it can lead to pulpal necrosis, or death of the tooth. It can spread to the tip of the root of the tooth and affect the surrounding gums and bone. At this point, some patients find that their pain actually goes away, but this does not mean that the infection is gone. Left untreated, it can cause bone loss, potential tooth loss, and even a systemic spread of infection.

Spreading dental infections can become serious. If you ever experience facial or jaw swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, this is an emergency that must be addressed immediately.

Other conditions that can mimic a tooth infection

Several other conditions can mimic the symptoms of an infected tooth, including a cracked tooth, gum disease, sinus issues, and referred pain from various areas. This is why it is so important to see a dentist if you experience any of the signs or symptoms described above. At your visit, the dentist will take a comprehensive history, gather x-rays, and perform testing to reach a definitive diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for your tooth.

Here at Conroe and Montgomery Comprehensive Dental Centers, we are here to serve you and address all your concerns. Please reach out to us by phone, and we would be honored to accommodate you, including same-day emergency appointments when needed.