Determining The Need For Endodontic Therapy

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Determining The Need For Endodontic TherapyEndodontic therapy is more commonly referred to as “root canal” therapy. It is a procedure that is performed on the pulp of a tooth or teeth in order to eliminate an existing infection while at the same time protecting them from any future infections. In order to make the most accurate diagnosis possible, the endodontists at Community Dental Group must evaluate the condition of the tooth in order to determine if a root canal is necessary.

So as professionals, endodontists have to consider certain information that they’ve collected from three primary sources, namely your symptoms, the signs the endodontist has observed, and any additional testing that may be required. Consider the following:

Your symptoms – although a tooth that needs endodontic therapy may not always cause you pain, slight to extreme pain is normally experienced in most cases. Gum swelling and tenderness may also occur, although there are cases where these symptoms are not apparent. Finally, your endodontist will want to know the frequency of these symptoms. In other words, do your symptoms come and go or are they continual and persistent?

Signs the endodontist has observed – there are certain indicative signs that are only obvious to your dentist and/or endodontist, hence the importance of taking X-rays. He or she will also look for “gum pimples” or pimple-like lesions that arise on the gum tissue in the same area where the root tip is located. Additionally, an individually darkened or discolored tooth may be an indication of pathological changes that have occurred in the pulp or with the nerve.

Additional testing that may be required – once our dentists or endodontists suspect that the health of a particular tooth may be in jeopardy, they may perform one or more of the following tests to confirm their suspicions:

  • electric pulp testing
  • evaluation of X-rays
  • percussion testing
  • thermal testing

If you notice any of the signs or symptoms that we have mentioned above, we recommend you contact Community Dental Group immediately and schedule an appointment for exam and evaluation. We will be able to determine if a root canal procedure is needed.