Root canal treatment (also known as endodontic therapy) aims to save a tooth when the pulp — the inner "nerve" — has become infected or inflamed. Many patients delay seeing a dentist because they don't recognise the warning signs in time.
1. Persistent pain
Pain that occurs spontaneously, lasts for hours, or wakes you up at night is one of the most common signs of pulp inflammation.
2. Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
Mild sensitivity is normal. However, if the pain lingers for many seconds or minutes after the stimulus is removed, that's a different signal altogether.
3. Swelling or tenderness in the gums around the tooth
Localised swelling, redness, or tenderness to pressure around a specific tooth may indicate an infection that has spread beyond the pulp.
4. Dark discolouration of the tooth
A tooth that gradually changes colour (greyish or dark) compared to its neighbours, often without pain, may indicate that the pulp has already died.
5. An abscess or "pimple" on the gums
A small bump near the root of the tooth that may drain fluid is a sign of chronic infection and requires prompt evaluation.
Why early treatment matters
The sooner the problem is addressed, the greater the chance of saving the natural tooth without needing an extraction. If you recognise one or more of these signs, don't wait for it to get worse.
At DentLux Clinic, we assess urgent pain-related cases promptly — contact us to book an appointment as soon as possible.
