For some reason, root canals are a procedure that patients are uncomfortable with. The fact is that the treatment is an easy and painless way to deal with a severely infected tooth, but for some reason, many patients will do whatever they can to avoid one.
In some cases, patients might find that previously aching teeth that needed a root canal suddenly no longer hurt. They take this as a sign that this treatment is unnecessary, but in many cases, that’s a dangerous assumption to make. Here’s why that is.
Why Did My Toothache Stop Hurting?
Toothaches can happen for all kinds of reasons, but one of the most common is a serious infection that attacks the pulp of the tooth. This generally occurs due to a combination of tooth decay and gum disease, and if these conditions become severe enough, bacteria may begin to attack the nerve tissue in the root pulp.
At first this causes severe, throbbing pain. However, after some time the bacteria may degrade the nerve tissue to such an extent that you can no longer feel your tooth at all. If you notice that a previously debilitating toothache has suddenly vanished, it may be that this is what happened to you.
Do I Still Need a Root Canal?
The answer is a definitive yes. As you might have gathered from the above description, a toothache disappearing isn’t a good thing—in fact, it’s a sign that the situation is worse than ever. A tooth you can no longer feel is on the verge of death. It’s likely to fall out on its own very soon, causing severe discomfort and allowing the infection to spread to the surrounding teeth. Moreover, if you wait too long, it may no longer be able to save your tooth with just a root canal; you could need to remove it entirely.
If your dentist or endodontist tells you that you need a root canal, it’s important that you get it regardless of whether your tooth hurts or not. This is the best way, and often the only way, to keep your tooth in healthy condition.
You’ll be happy to learn that this treatment isn’t nearly as scary as you might have thought. The procedure will be painless, and afterward your toothache will be gone—this time, for the right reasons!
About Our Practice
At JC Endodontics, we’re well aware of the fact that most patients aren’t excited about the prospect of a root canal. However, we also know that by making the process of treating teeth easy, efficient, and painless, we can make even the most dreaded treatments something that patients can feel comfortable with. And once your toothache has disappeared and you’re back in good oral health, you’ll be happy you visited us!
If you have any questions about a root canal, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (212) 737-6112.