Should I get a root canal even if my tooth doesn't hurt?

If you're like most people, you probably only think about getting a root canal if you're experiencing tooth pain. However, did you know that there are other reasons why you might need a root canal? Here at Granbury Endodontics, we perform root canal therapy for a variety of reasons - even if the patient isn't experiencing any pain. In this blog post, we will discuss five individual reasons why someone might need a root canal even if they have no pain.

No pain, no root canal?

In short, if our diagnostic imaging finds common issues with a root canal, it's still very likely that the patient should get a root canal procedure even if they're not experiencing pain. We'll go through five specific reasons that may apply to your situation, though every situation is unique. The best thing you can do is speak with Dr. Nieves and our staff to figure out what course of action you should take for your own dental health.

Reason #1: Damage to the Tooth's Structure

Even if there's no pain, damage to the tooth's structure is one of the primary reasons you might need a root canal. This could be due to things like wear and tear, grinding your teeth at night (which can also lead to headaches), or an injury that has caused cracks or chips in the tooth. In any of these cases, it's important to get a root canal as soon as possible before the damage gets worse.

Generally, your dentist will refer you to Granbury Endodontics if they think there's something to look further into. We'll use the Carestream 8200 Cone Beam CT to get 3D imaging of your tooth and mouth to help us see the full extent of what we need to watch out for. If root canal therapy is in fact needed, Dr. Nieves and our staff will discuss treatment options and how we can help. The most important thing is to save your tooth and prevent things from getting worse!

Reason #2: Decay Reaching the Root Canal

Another reason you might need a root canal even if you're not experiencing pain is if decay has reached the root canal. This is usually diagnosed during a routine dental exam, but it's important to catch it early before it leads to pain or infection.

During a root canal procedure, we will remove the decay from your tooth and then fill the root canal with a material called gutta-percha. This helps to seal off the tooth and prevent further decay or infection. In some cases, a dental crown may also be placed over the tooth to help protect it from further damage.

Reason #3: Infection in the Root Canal

If you have an infection in the root canal, you will most likely experience pain, but it's important to get a root canal as soon as possible to clear the infection and prevent it from spreading. In some cases, the infection can cause abscesses (pockets of pus) that can be very painful. If you think you might have an infection, please contact us right away so we can help.

Dr. Nieves will use our Carestream 8200 Cone Beam CT imaging technology to identify the infection and provide a treatment plan as part of your diagnosis. This will help prevent further infection, where you'll likely experience more pain if it goes untreated.

Reason #4: Gum Disease

If you have gum disease, it's important to get a root canal to clean out the infected tissue and prevent further damage. Gum disease is a serious condition that can lead to tooth loss, so it's important to get treatment as soon as possible.

Root canal therapy can help to clean out the infected tissue and prevent further damage to your teeth and gums. In some cases, a dental crown may also be placed over the tooth to help protect it from further damage.

Reason #5: Abnormalities or Infection in Jawbone and Surrounding Structure

A cyst or tumor in the jawbone can also cause damage to the tooth structure and root, even if there's no pain. This is usually diagnosed during a routine dental exam or x-ray, but if you're concerned about it, please don't hesitate to contact us.

We hope this blog post has been helpful in understanding some of the reasons why you might need a root canal even if you don't have any pain. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Granbury Endodontics and we will be happy to help. Thanks for reading!