When You Should See an Endodontist

If you have a hole, crack, or chip in your tooth and experience excruciating toothache, a visit to an endodontist may be necessary. Another sign that may require endodontic care is swelling, tenderness, and discoloration of the gums surrounding the damaged tooth. Other symptoms to watch out for are additional swelling around the face or neck and extreme teeth sensitivity to temperature. An abscess forming on the gum area is another manifestation of a problem affecting the tooth’s interior.

What causes tooth pain?

Each tooth consists of three layers of dental tissue. These are the enamel, dentin, and dental pulp. The enamel is the outermost shell and is the hardest tissue in the body. The dentin is the middle layer. It is four times softer than the enamel and contains tubules that connect to the nerves. Once exposed to tooth decay or general wear and tear, it can become sensitive and decay much faster than the enamel.

The innermost layer is known as the pulp. It consists of soft connective tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Sometimes, deep tooth decay or trauma can introduce bacteria to the pulpal tissue. This can affect or even kill the nerves of a healthy tooth. If left without treatment, the unhealthy pulp can result in infection, severe pain, or bone loss.

What marks a necrotic nerve inside a tooth?

The pulpal tissue decays when its nerve dies. Necrosis (cell death) produces toxins. Sometimes, these antigenic poisons have nowhere else to go but into the bone supporting the affected tooth. This leads to pressure and severe tooth pain.

Many patients visit an endodontist showing signs of a necrotic tooth nerve. A common complaint is erratic or persistent throbbing tooth pain, especially at night. Another symptom is swelling in the area of bone where the damaged tooth is located. Experiencing pain when the endodontist taps on the damaged tooth is also an indication of a dead nerve.

How can an endodontist help?

An endodontist is a dental professional that provides diagnosis and treatment for tooth pain. They specialize in treating infected nerves of a tooth and the areas surrounding the bone that supports the tooth. An endodontist specializes in root canals, aiming to save the natural tooth whenever possible. The procedure involves replacing the injured or diseased dental pulp inside the tooth with a rubber-like filling. The goal is to eliminate pain and restore the tooth’s function.