My Tooth Hurts — Do I Need a Root Canal?

A toothache can be one of the most distracting and frustrating types of pain. If your tooth hurts, you are likely eager to undergo any procedure that will help you to feel better. As an experienced emergency dentist, Dr. Makadia can evaluate the situation and recommend necessary treatment. He might recommend that you undergo root canal therapy. When is a root canal necessary, and what can you expect to experience during and after your appointment? This blog post provides some practical information.

When Is a Root Canal Necessary?

Root canal therapy is just one possible way to address a toothache. It may be necessary as the result of severe decay or a traumatic injury to a tooth. If the damage to your tooth is minor, you might need another treatment, such as a filling or crown. If the damage is extreme, you might need to get the tooth removed altogether. Dr. Makadia will let you know which procedure would be best for your unique situation.

Here are some signs and symptoms that sometimes indicate the need for root canal therapy:

• A throbbing toothache.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures that lingers even after the source of the temperature change is removed.
• A tooth that is darker in color than the ones around it.
• A bump on the gums that resembles a pimple.
• A non-vital tooth without any toothache or sensitivity

What to Expect with Root Canal Therapy

Although root canal therapy has a bad reputation, it is not as scary as the media makes it seem. In fact, it is a relatively comfortable experience.

Before your treatment begins, our team will make sure your mouth / area to be worked on is numbed. Then, Dr. Makadia can begin treatment. He will access the tooth’s pulp and use special instruments to clean out harmful bacteria and remove the tooth’s nerve. Then, the tooth will be filled with an inert material. A  tooth that undergoes root canal therapy requires a post to support it and a crown to protect it.  The crown and post can be done at follow up visits.

Recovering from root canal therapy is surprisingly easy. Most patients are feeling normal within 1 – 2 weeks. In the meantime, you may need to consume a modified diet, and follow other posttreatment instructions from our team.

 With successful root canal treatment you can expect your treated tooth to provide you with reliable, pain-free function for many years to come.

A bad toothache might mean that you need a root canal — but the procedure is nothing to worry about. It can help you to regain a healthy and strong smile!

Meet the Practice

Dr. Makadia has decades of experience as a dentist, and he is proud to put his extensive knowledge to work for patients. If you are struggling with a toothache, our team might be able to book you for a same-day emergency appointment. Our goal is to get you out of pain and on the road to recovery! To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact our Bohemia, Long Island, practice at 631-405-4390.