Root canal treatment may be needed when the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed, infected, or damaged.
This can happen with deep decay, a cracked or broken tooth, pain after an old filling, swelling near the gum, or pain that keeps coming back.
The signs are often simple:
- Tooth pain when chewing.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that does not pass quickly.
- A deep ache at night.
- Swelling or pressure near the tooth.
- A tooth that still hurts after previous treatment.
The goal is not to guess. The dentist first checks what is causing the pain and whether the tooth can still be saved.