When Exactly Should Root Canal Treatment Be Done?

Hello.

This is Seoul of Dental Hospital in Jamsil.💚

When a tooth starts hurting, one of the most commonly searched phrases is "When should I get root canal treatment?"

It may hurt, but then seem to get better for a day or two, and even when it seems to keep hurting, it may go quiet again, so you end up wondering, "Should I just keep watching it a little longer?"

So today, I’ll explain as simply as possible for a general audience when root canal treatment is absolutely necessary, and what kinds of pain should not be ignored.

Why is root canal treatment needed?

Inside a tooth, there is a space containing nerves and blood vessels that sense pain.

If a cavity gets deeper, a tooth cracks, or strong force is repeatedly applied, inflammation can spread to this nerve as well.

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In this condition, removing only the visible cavity is not enough, and treatment is needed to remove the inflamed nerve and thoroughly clean the inside of the tooth.

This is what we commonly call root canal treatment.

If you have these kinds of pain, you should suspect the need for root canal treatment

Tooth pain comes in many different forms, but pain that requires root canal treatment has a few distinct features.

First, it is a throbbing pain even when you are doing nothing. If it hurts not only when chewing but also when you are not doing anything, the nerve inflammation has often already progressed.

Second, the pain gets worse at night. If lying down changes blood flow and makes the pain strong enough to disturb your sleep, there is a high chance that you have missed the timing for root canal treatment.

Third, pain that lingers after cold or hot water. If it is not just a brief sensitivity when exposed to a stimulus, but pain continues even after the stimulus is gone, the nerve may already be damaged.

"It feels better" — is it really better?

There are cases where pain suddenly disappears after having been present.

At times like this, many people think, "It must be healing now," but in reality, the nerve may be dying, so the pain is no longer being felt.

In this case, the pain decreases, but the inflammation continues around the root, and over time the gums may swell or pus may form.

So even if the pain disappears, that does not mean the problem has been resolved.

What happens if you delay root canal treatment?

If the timing for root canal treatment is missed, inflammation around the tooth root can worsen, leading to a situation where the tooth can no longer be saved.

In that case, a treatment that could have ended with root canal treatment → a crown may change to extraction → implant or bridge.

Tooth treatment is structured in a way that, as time passes, the scope gets wider and the burden increases as well.

So the point where "I can still endure it" often turns out to be the best time to treat it.

There are also cases where root canal treatment is not absolutely necessary

Not every toothache directly leads to root canal treatment.

If the cavity is shallow, or if the pain is due to gum inflammation or temporary irritation, resin treatment or a simple procedure is often enough.

What matters is accurately checking how far the cause of the pain has progressed.

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That is why you need the diagnostic process to distinguish whether root canal treatment is necessary, whether it can still be observed a little longer, or whether another method can solve it.

Root canal treatment is not a procedure you do unconditionally just because it hurts, and it is not something you should endure until the pain becomes unbearable.

It is a treatment that should be chosen accurately when needed so you do not miss the point when the tooth can still be saved.

If your tooth pain keeps recurring, or if you are unsure when root canal treatment should be done, don’t worry about it alone— it is okay to first get your condition checked.

If you need a consultation about the timing for root canal treatment in Jamsil, feel free to contact us.

02-418-2275 / KakaoTalk consultation available

Seoul of Dental Hospital 4th and 5th Floors, 196 Baekjegobun-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul