12606 A Lake Ridge Drive

Woodbridge, VA 22192

(703) 491-2131

Should I Get a Root Canal?

Should I Get a Root Canal?

What your dentist in Woodbridge, Virginia wants you to know about root canals

Root canals, also called endodontic therapy, have become a state-of-the-art dental procedure designed to eliminate dental pain, but stillroot canal allow you to keep your tooth. It can be difficult to know if you need a root canal because sometimes there are no symptoms. Dr. Charles L. Sours in Woodbridge, Virginia wants you to know some of the common signs and symptoms to look for. You may need a root canal if you:

  • Feel an acute, stabbing pain when you bite down or eat
  • Experience constant pressure or throbbing pain
  • Have pain that continues long after you’ve eaten hot or cold foods
  • Notice redness, swelling, a white bump, pus or drainage on your gums where the tooth root is

Sometimes you may feel no symptoms, but your tooth still needs a root canal. Teeth can become damaged or bruised from traumatic injury and the inside of your tooth, an area called the pulp, can begin to die. You may not notice any pain or symptoms.

The only way you will know for certain if you need a root canal is to visit the dentist. Your dentist in Woodbridge, Virginia will take x-rays and perform a few non-invasive tests to determine if the pulp of your tooth is damaged. He will look for any dark (radiolucent) area around the roots of your tooth and test for temperature sensitivity. These tests and x-rays will show if you need a root canal.

The main reason you should get a root canal is because it is usually far better to keep your tooth in place than to remove it. When you remove a tooth that could have been treated with a root canal, your chewing function is impaired. Your remaining teeth are taking on more stress to compensate for the missing tooth or teeth.

To replace a missing tooth, you often have to deal with expensive, invasive procedures to help you regain full chewing function. Why not keep the tooth if you can? Now, thanks to modern root canal therapy and the skills of your dentist in Woodbridge, Virginia you can eliminate pain and still retain your tooth.

Your dentist in Woodbridge, Virginia can help you decide if a root canal is the best choice for you. If you are experiencing dental pain and wonder if you need a root canal, it’s time to call Dr. Charles L. Sours in Woodbridge, Virginia. Take care of your dental pain by calling today!