Do I Need a Root Canal Chevy Chase, MD

At James J. Stevens DDS is regularly asked, “my tooth hurts, do I have to have a root canal?” Toothaches can be terribly inconvenient. They make it difficult to eat, speak, or even function. As a family dentist in Chevy Chase, MD, we realize that a common toothache is something most people can live with until it suddenly turns a corner and becomes unbearable. The key is to visit our dental office at that initial stage before you reach the point of severe discomfort. This will give you the largest amount of options for how to treat the problem. To schedule an appointment with our family dental office, call (301) 656-3900.

If you are wondering, “my tooth hurts, do I have to have a root canal?” the answer is – not necessarily. We know that your tooth could hurt for several reasons, including:

• Food is stuck in between your teeth or in between the ridges on the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
• You could have a cavity.
• Your tooth could have been chipped or cracked.
• You may be suffering from enamel erosion.

In these scenarios, we can treat the problem without needing to perform a root canal. For example, we can clean your teeth and remove any food particles causing discomfort. If you have a cavity, we can remove the decay and place a filling in our family dentist office. This is done quickly and is far less invasive than a root canal. Simultaneously, if your tooth is chipped or cracked, we can restore it using dental bonding or dental veneers. If you are dealing with erosion, you may need dental crowns to protect your teeth. As a cosmetic dentist, we restore teeth on a daily basis and have several ways of doing so.

However, there are many times where a root canal is the right treatment option, so to answer the question, “my tooth hurts, do I have to have a root canal?” we must also look at the surrounding circumstances.

How long has your tooth been hurting?
When you visit our dental office in Chevy Chase, MD, we need to know how long you have been dealing with this issue and whether the pain came on suddenly or if it has built up over time. This will help us in determining what the source of the discomfort is and what our treatment plan should be.

What level of pain are you in?
At James J. Stevens DDS we regularly ask patients about their pain and whether or not it is manageable. If it is only slight discomfort, you may be able to visit our Chevy Chase dentist practice and have tooth decay removed. In many cases, a toothache is caused by a cavity that can be treated without the need for a root canal. However, as a Chevy Chase, MD dentist, we have found that intense pain is often due to an infection severe enough to warrant a root canal.

When to Call Our Emergency Dentist Office
If you have any of these symptoms, you should call our emergency dentist office at 301-656-3900 and schedule an appointment to be seen right away.

• Your face is swollen. In this scenario, you could have a severe infection and require an immediate root canal. As a Chevy Chase dentist near you, we can quickly examine and treat you.
• You are having difficulty swallowing. In this case, you need to be treated by our emergency dentist office immediately. Do not delay or take any chances with this particular symptom. It is possible to develop a dental abscess, an infection that can spread from your root canal to the floor of your mouth and even into your neck. This requires urgent care.
• You cannot bite down without pain. In this case, your tooth could be infected and require a standard root canal. If so, we can perform the procedure quickly.
• Your tooth is changing color. Another sign of an infection is if the tooth begins to change color. In this case, it may appear gray or dull, and performing a root canal could be necessary for restoring the health of your tooth.

The Process of Performing a Root Canal

When patients call us asking, “my tooth hurts, do I have to have a root canal?” the second question they normally ask is what the process is like. At James J. Stevens DDS is happy to answer any questions you may have during your examination and consultation. As a cosmetic dentist in Chevy Chase, MD, we can complete a root canal in a way that is as comfortable as possible. This is the first thing you should know – a root canal does not have to hurt. In fact, by using sedation, we can help you feel calm and relaxed to the point that most of our patients say they feel much better after the treatment than they did before it was completed. This is because the root canal removes the infection, which is the cause of the initial discomfort. When looking for a “dentist near me” to perform a root canal, be sure to visit one who offers sedation.

When performing a root canal in our family dentist office, we do the following:

• Clean the tooth.
• Numb the area.
• Create a small hole in the tooth.
• Remove the infected portion.
• Clean the interior of the tooth.
• Seal it with a rubbery substance.
• Restore the tooth using a filling or crown.

When completed by a skilled cosmetic dentistry office, a root canal can be finished quickly and easily.

As a cosmetic dentist in Chevy Chase Maryland, we can treat your damaged or infected tooth, along with improving the appearance of your smile. We do so by offering additional solutions like teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental implants, dental crowns, and bridges. To schedule an appointment to have your teeth examined or to learn more about a root canal, call (301) 656-3900.

Helpful Related Links

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
• WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015

About our business, license, and website security

• James J. Stevens DDS was established in 1976
• We accept the following payment methods: American Express, Cash, Check, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa
• We serve patients from the following counties: Montgomery County
• We serve patients from the following cities: Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Northwest Washington


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