I’m trying to figure out when I need a root canal if I don’t feel any pain. I am job searching, and if the tooth can wait, I would prefer to postpone it. My left first molar tooth is discolored, and my dentist says that the tooth is infected. She wants to complete a root canal and cover the tooth with a crown. If the tooth does not hurt, is this really urgent? – Thank you. Marcus from OK

 

Marcus,

Thank you for your inquiry. Your dentist is right; a dark infected tooth requires treatment.

Why Is Your Tooth Turning Dark?

Your tooth can turn dark from infection. When the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside) dies, it turns dark, and the discoloration shows through your tooth. Tooth pulp contains tissue and nerves, so you will not feel pain if the tooth is dead.

Can You Delay Root Canal Treatment?

Although you do not feel pain, your tooth infection is lingering. A dark tooth means that you have probably had the infection for some time. It can spread into your bone or your bloodstream. Although you may not feel pain, other symptoms of a long-term tooth infection include:

• A foul taste or smell in your mouth
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling in your face or cheek
• Tenderness or swelling under your jaw or in your neck (lymph nodes)
• Fever
• Gum disease
• Dehydration
• Stomach pain
• Fatigue

A dead tooth is an urgent matter because the infection can poison other parts of your body.

What Can You Expect with Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment is painless, but your tooth will be weak. And your dentist must protect it.

• Painless – A skilled dentist uses a local anesthetic for painless root canal treatment. But if your tooth is dead, you will not feel any nerve pain.
• Foul smell – A tooth that has been dead for years has a bad smell. You will probably notice it and be happy that your dentist removed the infection.
• Protecting the tooth afterward – If you have a strict budget, you do not have to get a dental crown right away. Instead, ask your dentist to complete the root canal and protect your tooth until you can afford a crown.

After the dentist completes the treatment, you will probably feel better. You might have mild symptoms that you ignored or did not associate with your tooth.

Best wishes.

Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. For more information read our post, Does a Root Canal Tooth Always Need a Crown?