5 Signs You Should See an Endodontist

With this in mind, we’re looking at five situations where you might want to seek out help from an endodontist specialist to help get your oral health back on track.

1. If you have toothache

Toothache typically means you have an infection in your tooth, so if you can’t see any visible signs of trauma, it could mean that the infection has spread to the soft part inside your tooth.

If you have swelling in your cheek or jaw, this could be a sign of an abscess which needs to be addressed by an endodontist.

2. Pain after a root canal

If you have recently had root canal treatment and you experience a repeat of the pain that you experienced when you first needed your root canal treatment, this could be a sign the infection has returned.

Sometimes, one of the roots is missed and the infected tissue remains. Sometimes, it’s simply a case that the damage was too extensive. You’ll need to return to the dentist to see if you can repeat the treatment or if you need an extraction and restoration.

3. If you have an injury to your face or jaw

Sometimes, an injury to your face and jaw might not cause visible problems, but the damage has occurred below the gum line. If you have an injury to your face or jaw, you should visit an endodontist to confirm there is no damage to the roots of your teeth.

This is particularly important if the injury occurred below your jaw and forced you to clamp your jaw closed, as this can be a risk factor for root damage.

4. If you’ve been avoiding a checkup

If you have been told you need root canal treatment but are avoiding the treatment out of fear, it’s time to build up the courage to book the appointment. Avoiding root canal treatment will only cause the issue to get worse below the surface.

While the pain might go away temporarily, it will soon return, and it will usually be worse every time. Every time the pain subsides, more of the root tissue is dying, so it’s vital that you get it checked out as quickly as possible.

5. If you have one discoloured tooth

If you are trying to whiten your teeth and one tooth is being difficult, this could be a sign that there is more going on below the surface. Discolouration due to damage to the tooth root is very common and can be addressed with a crown or composite bonding.

However, it’s important to address the cause of the discoloration first. Once you know your teeth are healthy and not at risk of causing pain or falling out, then you can address the aesthetic concerns you might have.

Final thoughts

A trip to the endodontist might sound like a scary thing, but it really doesn’t need to be. Endodontic treatment is no more painful than any other dental treatment, and it is far more comfortable than not getting treatment at all.

If you ignore dental pain and hope that it goes away, you will soon need to see a regular dentist for an extraction, and this could have widespread issues for your oral health as the surrounding and opposing teeth will shift to fill the space.