Sometimes a tooth has just too much decay to be saved. If this is the case, you may need root canal therapy, but not all cases are the same. It is recommended to consult with the best dentist in Rutherford, NJ, to thoroughly evaluate your dental condition and determine the need for root canal therapy.

A dentist can determine if root canal therapy is needed by examining how deep your tooth decay has gone through X-rays and testing the sensitivity of your tooth and surrounding gums.

Some common dental conditions that can show you need root canal therapy include:

• Chip or crack in the tooth

A chip or crack in the tooth can be painful. The chip or crack sometimes takes off the pulp of your tooth and allows bacteria to enter. Root canal therapy is usually advised after a chip or crack occurs because of the high risk of tooth abscessing if not treated. You can consult a dentist for an evaluation and necessary treatment.

• Severe toothache

A severe toothache is usually a sign of infection on the pulp of your tooth. The dentist can use dental tools to check how much of the pulp has been damaged and determine if root canal therapy is needed. Severe pain might occur when the pulp becomes exposed because of deep decay in the tooth or a crack in the tooth. 

• Faulty crown

A faulty crown is another indication that root canal therapy is needed. Crowns are plastic covers used to replace the old metal of your tooth and repair or cover the pulp of your tooth. Sometimes, plastic can break and expose the pulp of your tooth, which can lead to severe pain.

• Infection or abscess in the tooth

Root canal therapy is usually needed for an infection or abscess in the tooth. An abscess usually occurs when the tooth roots have become exposed because of deep decay in the tooth or a crack in the tooth. A dentist will help you to determine if root canal therapy is needed. 

• Repeated dental procedures on the same tooth

Repeated dental surgeries on the same tooth might mean your dentist isn’t able to save the tooth anymore, and you should consider getting root canal therapy done. A dentist might perform dental procedures that cause more damage to the tooth, which leads to the need for root canal therapy.