If your dentist tells you that you need root canal treatment, then you may not question it. But, did you know that there are several things that could warn you of the need for treatment before you even visit your dentist? Root canal treatment is a restorative measure to remove the infection from inside of a tooth’s main structure and root canal. Because it is a solution for progressive tooth decay, your tooth may hurt severely from the infection, or your tooth may be compromised in not-so-subtle ways, such as a failed tooth filling.

How Bad Does Your Tooth Hurt?

Tooth pain is the most prominent symptom of the decay that leads to root canal treatment. If your tooth is infected bad enough to require root canal treatment, then the associated pain will likely be severe and relentless.  Unlike more casual causes of tooth sensitivity, intense tooth infection is impossible to ignore; if your toothache hurts that bad, then you may need root canal treatment.

How Long Ago Did You Get a Filling?

When placed correctly, tooth fillings can last longer than many other restorations. Yet, fillings can also fail for a variety of reasons, which can expose the tooth structure that the previous cavity infected. If your filling fails or falls out, then the exposure can cause your tooth to suddenly hurt again, as well as pave the way for more severe tooth infection.

Find Out if Your Tooth Needs Root Canal Treatment

In severe cases of tooth infection, root canal treatment could be the most important step you take in saving your tooth. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with our dental health experts, call Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA, today at (319) 364-7108. We also welcome patients from Mount Vernon, Iowa City, Hiawatha, and all nearby communities.