Patients often 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. 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, call (312) 642-1014.

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.

How long has your tooth been hurting?

It is important to know how long you have been dealing with the issue. Did the pain come on suddenly or has it built up over time? This will help determine what the source of the discomfort is and what our treatment plan needs to be.

What level of pain are you in?

At Mitchell Dental Spa, we regularly ask patients about their pain and whether or not it is manageable. If there is only a slight discomfort, you may be able to visit our practice. 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 is often be due to an infection severe enough to warrant a root canal.

When to Call Our Emergency Dentist Office

If you have any of these symptoms, you should call our office at 312-642-1014 and schedule an appointment to be seen right away.

• Your face is swollen. In this scenario, you could have a severe infection and require an immediate root canal.
• You are having difficulty swallowing. In this case, you need to be treated by our emergency dentist office immediately. Do not delay or take any chances with this particular symptom. It is possible to develop a dental abscess, an infection that can spread from your root canal to the floor of your mouth and even into your neck. This requires urgent care.
• You cannot bite down without pain. In this case, your tooth could be infected and require a standard root canal. If so, we can perform the procedure quickly.
• Your tooth is changing color. Another sign of an infection is if the tooth begins to change color. In this case, it may appear gray or dull, and performing a root canal could be necessary for restoring the health of your tooth.