Throughout the years of private practice patients have always asked for certain signs and symptoms of when a root canal procedure may be indicated.

I will list some of these "Red Flags" to watch for:

     1.  Food and/or Fluid which cause Lingering COLD sensitivity and/or Lingering HOT sensitivity.

     2.  COLD sensitivity which is eased by placing something warm.

     3.  HOT sensitivity which is eased by placing something cool.

     4.  Any sensitivity which becomes lingering and/or increased by something HOT and/or COLD.

     5.  Discomfort which is increased by laying down and/or attempting to sleep.

     6.  Discomfort which awakens from sleeping.

     7.  Chewing discomfort upon biting down and/or upon release of the food material.

     8.  A tooth with a fabricated crown which constantly displaces and/or needs to be replaced.

     9.  A tooth with or without a crown that has a bite which needs to be constantly adjusted.

   10.  A tooth receives a new filling and becomes sensitive. The tooth is then prepared for a

          temporary crown;  the discomfort may cease or not. The final crown is placed and the

          discomfort returns. 

   11.  A tooth breaks and/or a large filling breaks out of the tooth. Now follow the scenario in #10.

   12.  OFTEN QUOTED CLAUSES:

             a.  "saved you from needing a root canal"

             b.  "close but did not expose the nerve"

             c.  "you may need to see an endodontist"

             d.  "this tooth has had a root canal and the tooth has never felt right"

Any one and/or a combination of these "red flags" can indicate the need for an endodontic procedure.

****** CONSULTATION******

Therefore, one of the MOST IMPORTANT services an endodontist can provide is a thorough consultation and evaluation. It is this service that determines the etiology and the diagnosis of the discomfort.

An etiology and a diagnosis MUST be established. It is only at this time that a root canal procedure should be considered.