Do I really need a root canal?

Question

My tooth does not hurt and is not discolored. There is no sensitivity to pressure. I did see the shadow area - cavity - on the x-ray, but how is my dentist so sure I need a root canal?

I've had root canals twice before and both times I had major toothaches and the teeth were broken.

Answer 1

If the decay has reached the soft tissue inside the tooth, that's generally the point that a root canal is needed, as your body doesn't fight off infection there well, due to limited blood flow. And infections there can be very nasty, even fatal, I believe due to the proximity of major arteries and the brain. Blood infections are very very difficult to fight.

Lack of pain is more an indicator for the need for one than not: infection/decay in the soft tissues of the tooth usually kills the nerve, so you actually don't feel pain there that you should be feeling.

If you don't trust your dentist, by all means, get a second opinion. However, there is a good chance he or she is correct in his diagnosis.

It's much better to have a preventative root canal before you get into serious trouble: being in the ER having your jaw drilled to try to drain an abcess isn't fun.

Answer 2

A shadow on the tooth is a cavity and a shadow at the base of the root is a periapical abscess aka an infection requiring a root canal. If you have a large open cavity with the pulp exposed, the dentist can usually tell if there is an infection present. Did you see the shadow at the root? Sometimes it is more obvious, like a dark circle at the end of the root and sometimes it is just an outline. If this is what your dentist showed you, then you need a root canal. It is better to get it done now BEFORE it does start to hurt. =)

Answer 3

well only i could say about your situation is that, dentists could determine if you will need a rootcanal if he/she founds out that the cavity is near into the pulp or nerve area, and or theres starting to have a periapical infection on the tip of your root of your tooth, in some cases if if the tooth doesnt have a visible hole it still has a possibility of needing a root canal, dentists doesnt usually telll you if you need a root canal if you dont need it, coz this procedure is not an easy to do, in some cases general dentists have to send them out to a rootcanal specialist or also known as endodontist. root canal procedure, basically a procedure wherein they have to take out the nerve and clean the canal and put a plastesized material called gutta percha and seal it with cement specially formulated for root canal. root canal is the only way to save your tooth if its infected or decayed, but not all decayed or infected tooth are salvageable by doing a root canal, it depends on a degree of cavity or infection the tooth has and the prognosis of that depends on the discretion of a dentist or an endodontist.
usually dentist are telling you to have it done simply because your tooth is not acting up yet , it means they could work on you without you suffering from alot of pain, coz for the most part this tooth , if it starts to bother you... means the infection is active and its gonna flare up and give you pain and by the time that you have to go to your dentist and have this fix, if lets say your in a lot of pain, then couldnt do much but to prescribe you an antibiotic for the infection to subside and then after that you can have the procedure done. it your still hesitate or unsure of this situation, i would suggest for you to get a second opinion to another dentist and have them look at it and tell you their verdict. dentists doesnt usually tell you to have a root canal done if its not necessary, remember their profession is to save teeth not to remove it. one more thing, dentists are giving you that diagnosis coz it is necessary, they have studied long enough and become a doctor of that field to give you the best possible way of saving your tooth. ;-)

Answer 4

You know what?? I was once told I needed a root canal just because I'd cracked a tooth. The dentist seemed convinced and scheduled me for one. But while I was waiting for the appointment date to roll around.....I got to thinking about it and .....it never has caused me any pain (other than when I cracked it).....maybe it will some day? But since it never has, I left well enough alone.

I guess your dentist could say you're preventing future pain....but I say I don't want to fix what isn't broken.

Answer 5

root canal

Answer 6

You may not.... but none of us are dentist and none of us have examined you. Come to think of it, neither are you.... None of us are qualified to make the judgement.

The only thing you can do is to get a second opinion by another dentist.

By the way, many years ago, I was advised by one dentist that I need a gum treatment that would cost me thousands of dollars. I went to another dentist. He told me, there is no way I need that kind of treatment that it is nowhere near as bad as the first dentist made it sound.... and that was 30 years ago. Yes, I still have all of my teeth! (and the gum)

....and the second dentist is my dentist now.

Answer 7

Get a second opinion from another dentist. You will have to pay the costs for this out of your own pocket, but then you will be sure. Tell the second dentist you want a second opinion.

Answer 8

You can test this yourself. Take a narrow piece of metal, and put in in the freezer. Tell a friend which of your teeth is scheduled for the RC, but have the friend randomly touch the tops of random teeth -- including the RC tooth -- to see if you feel the cold of the frozen metal. If you feel no cold with the RC tooth, your tooth's root is dead, and you need a RC. Very simple.

Best of luck to you . . .

Answer 9

I don't know. You may want a second opinion from another dentist. Best of luck!