Question:

Could someone please tell me what the symptoms are that show the dentist that someone needs a root canal. Is this always something that shows up on x ray?


Answer: On x-rays, a doctor is looking for a radiolucency or darkening around the root of the tooth. This is an indication of pulp death and the necrotic debris of the tooth is leaving the tooth, destroying the bone around it. Clinically, a dentist looks for a dental history of spontaneous pain with excitation to both hot and cold (sometimes only one), percussion pain (tapping on the tooth), swelling or drainage from around the tooth or a tract leading from a tooth root, and/or swelling of facial tissues.

Nope. In fact, clinical signs are best. I can tell if a new patient has an abscess if I spot him 50 feet from the office. I look outside and it is snowing. Yet he is sipping from a 32 ounce cup of ice water from Burger King.

#1 - True! Cold relieves an abscess. The dude is icing it down.

#2 - The tap test. Tap the tooth sharply. If it hurts, danger.

#3 - swelling.

#4 - A black ball at the tip of the root is also a sign.

this is only true for an acute suppurative pulpitis........not true for any other type of pulpal pathology...... TANG SOO !

point taken, Joel, and a good one at that. I usually put things in layman's terms for patients' understanding, too

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