You may need a root canal if the tooth pain is caused by an infection inside the tooth. Common signs include severe toothache, pain when biting down, swelling of the face or gums, or a tooth turning gray/darker. However, not all toothaches require a root canal—pain can also be caused by a cavity, cracked tooth, or food stuck between teeth. The best way to know is to have your dentist examine the tooth.
A root canal removes infected tissue from inside the tooth to relieve pain and stop the infection from spreading. During the procedure, the dentist will numb the area, make a small opening in the tooth, remove the infected pulp, clean the inside of the tooth, and then seal it. After that, the tooth is usually restored with a filling or crown to protect it. Root canals are designed to be comfortable, and most patients feel relief after treatment.
At Care For You Dental, patients ask, “my tooth hurts, do I need a root canal?” Toothaches can be terribly inconvenient. They make it difficult to eat, speak, or even function. As a family dentist in Las Vegas, NV, we realize that a common toothache is something most people can live with until it suddenly turns a corner and becomes unbearable. The key is to visit our dental office at that initial stage before you reach the point of severe discomfort. This will give you the largest amount of options for how to treat the problem. To schedule an appointment with our family dental office, call (702) 765-4018.
If you are wondering, “my tooth hurts, do I need a root canal?” the answer is – not necessarily. We know that your tooth could hurt for several reasons, including:
In these scenarios, we can treat the problem without needing to perform a root canal. For example, we can clean your teeth and remove any food particles causing discomfort. If you have a cavity, we can remove the decay and place a filling at our family dentist office. This is done quickly and is far less invasive than a root canal. Simultaneously, if your tooth is chipped or cracked, we can restore it using dental bonding or dental veneers. If you are dealing with erosion, you may need dental crowns to protect your teeth. We also restore teeth on a daily basis and have several ways of doing so.
However, there are many times where a root canal is the right treatment option, so to answer the question, “my tooth hurts, do I need a root canal?” we must also look at the surrounding circumstances.
When you visit our dental office in Las Vegas, NV, we need to know how long you have been dealing with this issue and whether the pain came on suddenly or if it has built up over time. This will help us in determining what the source of the discomfort is and what our treatment plan needs to be.
At Care For You Dental we regularly ask patients about their pain and whether or not it is manageable. If it is only slight discomfort, you may be able to visit our Las Vegas dentist practice and have tooth decay removed. In many cases, a toothache is caused by a cavity that can be treated without the need for a root canal. However, we find that intense pain can often be due to an infection severe enough to warrant a root canal.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should call our emergency dentist office at 702-765-4018 and schedule an appointment to be seen right away.
When patients call us asking, “my tooth hurts, do I need a root canal?” the second question they normally ask is what the process will be like. At Care For You Dental, we will answer any questions you may have during your examination and consultation. We can complete a root canal in a way that is as comfortable as possible. The reality is that a root canal does not have to hurt. In fact, by using sedation, we can help you feel calm and relaxed to the point that most of our patients say they feel much better after the treatment than they did before the treatment. The root canal removes the infection, which is the cause of the initial discomfort, to relieve the pain. When looking for a “dentist near me” to perform a root canal, be sure to visit one who offers sedation.
Cementum is that bone-like tissue that forms the outer surface on the root of the tooth.
Dental pulp is the inner-most layer of the tooth with connective tissue that contains blood vessels and nerve tissue.
Dentin is the inner layer of the tooth structure that is immediately under the enamel and surrounds the dental pulp.
A direct pulp cap is a procedure in which a professional treats exposed pulp with a therapeutic material to help the tooth heal.
The enamel is the hard calcified layer that covers the entire tooth and is subject to interaction with multiple substances.
An endodontist is a specialist who focuses on treating issues, diseases and conditions that affect the inner-most layer of the tooth, the dental pulp.
A pulpectomy is a procedure that involves the complete removal of pulp tissue from the root canal in a tooth.
Call Us
Directions
Watch Real Patient Testimonials and Discover How We Help Families Smile With Confidence Every Day.
4.9/5 (100+ Reviews)
We provide a wide range of dental services, including routine checkups and cleanings, emergency dental care, tooth extractions, root canal treatment, cosmetic dentistry (crowns, veneers, bonding), and dental implants.
If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, swelling, bleeding, or a broken/chipped tooth, contact us immediately. We offer emergency dental care and will try to schedule you as soon as possible.
Yes. We treat patients of all ages, including children. We also help patients with dental anxiety by providing a calm environment and discussing comfort options, including sedation when appropriate.