Diagnosis

If your dentist has referred you to our office for an endodontic evaluation, there are a few things we will do to make a diagnosis. First, we will review your dental and medical history, talk to you about your concerns and your chief complaint, study X-Rays, and perform other diagnostic tests. We may want to perform a cone beam CT just to get a more detailed view of your teeth and their roots. There are two goals of an endodontic evaluation. These are:

1. To identify the source of your tooth pain
2. To determine if endodontic treatment is needed

Diagnosis of Orofacial Pain

It’s very common for patients to experience generalized pain without being able to identify the exact tooth that’s causing the problem. In fact, pain can sometimes be felt in a different area from where it originates. This is known as referred pain. During your initial appointment, we will determine the source of the pain, diagnose the problem, and discuss treatment options with you.

Here at Syrpes & Pangborn, our skilled endodontists are trained to tell the difference between endodontic pain (which is pain relating to the pulp of the tooth) and non-endodontic pain. Non-endodontic pain may be caused by gum infection, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), sinus infection, bruxism (the grinding or clenching of the teeth), and many others. In these cases, endodontic treatment will not be needed as it will not resolve the problem. Instead, we will refer you to a specialist who can treat the problem.

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

The treatment required for a cracked tooth depends largely on the location, severity, and type of crack. Unlike a broken bone, teeth are unable to heal their cracks and, if left untreated, a cracked tooth can lead to the loss of the tooth. However, if the tooth is properly treated, it can continue to function for a lifetime.

There are many symptoms associated with cracked tooth syndrome, including sensitivity to temperature, pain when biting down and chewing, or visible cracks in the tooth. It can be common for these symptoms to come and go, which can make it tough to diagnose the cause of the pain.

Cracked teeth become endodontic problems when chewing causes movement of the cracked pieces of tooth. This causes the pulp of the tooth to become irritated and damaged, causing pain even when you’re not chewing. Eventually, this can lead to infection in the pulp of the tooth, which can spread to the gum tissue and bones surrounding the cracked tooth.

To receive an endodontic evaluation or if you think you may be suffering from cracked tooth syndrome, please contact our Centennial, Colorado endodontics office.