Fort Worth root canalToothaches can cause many different sensations. Some involve intense shooting pain that shocks you when you bite down on your food. Others tend to ache intermittently, while some tend to be sensitive to extreme temperatures. You should always see a dentist when you have a toothache, of course, just in case it means you might need restorative dentistry treatments, such as Fort Worth root canal.

Dr. Christopher Tye provides Fort Worth root canal and Keller root canal treatments, to help you end your toothache and restore your damaged tooth. If you’ve been experiencing a toothache, call us at 817-552-3223 to make an appointment.

Tooth Pain May Indicate Several Conditions

Root canals are needed when a tooth has become infected by bacteria. However, sensitivity in a specific tooth does not always mean an infection is present. Tooth pain can also be a symptom of:

  • A cavity that has reached the dentin
  • Gum disease
  • Gum recession
  • A deep crack
  • A fractured tooth
  • Failing dental work

Not all of these conditions will require root canal therapy to restore the tooth. In some cases, a simple filling, dental crown, or other restoration may be able to protect the structure of the tooth.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is also referred to as endodontic therapy. This refers to the fact that it takes place on the inside (endo-) of the tooth (-dontic). The inside of the tooth is called the pulp chamber, and it’s where all the living tissues of a tooth are found: blood vessels, nerves, connective tissues, etc. When bacteria have reached this inner structure of the tooth, it means that the infection has the potential to spread outside the tooth and into the gum tissue or blood stream. A tooth may also require root canal therapy if a deep crack has breached the pulp chamber and opened the door to the possibility of bacterial infection.

If your toothache is ever accompanied by facial swelling and fever, this means you have developed an abscess outside the tooth, which is a critical situation. In these cases, a root canal is no longer possible and the tooth must be extracted. You don’t ever want a toothache to escalate to this point, so it’s always a good idea to treat a toothache as soon as you notice it.

Why Root Canal Therapy is a Wonderful Thing

Root canal therapy may have a bad reputation—no one like to hear that phrase—but it is a beneficial treatment. Root canals allow you to preserve a damaged or infected tooth, so you can continue to use it indefinitely. When one is needed, failure to get a root canal almost always ends in extraction. Teeth simply don’t heal themselves. Many other parts of the body do, but teeth do not.

When you require root canal therapy, we administer an anesthetic injection to ensure you do not feel any sensitivity during the treatment. This means your root canal will bring an end to your pain, and that’s always a good thing.

What You Can Expect at Your Appointment

When you bring your toothache to Dr. Tye, we will inquire about your symptoms, take a look at the tooth, and take x-rays to see what’s happening below the gum tissue. If a tooth shows signs of infection or damage that cannot be treated with a filling or crown, a root canal will often be recommended. If you require a root canal, Dr. Tye will schedule an appointment for the treatment. These visits take longer than simple fillings because root canals require more steps to restore a tooth properly.

At Texas Oral Surgery Specialists, we don’t want to see any of our patients suffer through a toothache. Call us at 817-552-3223 to make an appointment and we’ll find out the cause. If your toothache indicates an infection, we will provide Fort Worth root canal and Keller root canal therapy, so you can preserve the use of your tooth.