Tooth pain can be difficult to interpret. A tooth may ache constantly, react sharply to temperature or hurt only when you release your bite. In other cases, an injured or infected tooth may stop hurting even though the problem inside it has not resolved. Endodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions involving the pulp at the center of the tooth and the tissues surrounding its roots. At Preferred Family Dentistry, Dr. Salmeh Jafarifar evaluates whether an affected tooth can heal, requires root canal treatment or is too compromised to preserve predictably.
Call 702-433-0355 if you have persistent tooth pain, prolonged sensitivity, swelling or another concern that may involve the inside of a tooth.
Endodontic Services
The services below address pain, infection and injuries involving the dental pulp and tooth roots. Select a topic to learn more about the care available at Preferred Family Dentistry.
Tooth Pain Is a Symptom, Not a Diagnosis
The dental pulp contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. It is protected by the enamel and dentin surrounding it, but deep decay, cracks, trauma and repeated dental work can allow irritation or bacteria to reach this sensitive inner area.
Possible signs of a pulp or root-related problem include:
- Spontaneous aching or throbbing
- Pain that interrupts sleep
- Heat or cold sensitivity that lingers
- Sharp pain while biting or releasing pressure
- Swelling near a tooth or along the gums
- A recurring bump that drains near the root
- Darkening after a dental injury
- Tenderness that seems to spread toward the jaw or ear
These symptoms do not automatically mean you need a root canal. Cracked restorations, gum recession, grinding and other conditions can produce similar discomfort. Dr. Jafarifar combines your description of the pain with clinical testing and diagnostic imaging to identify the likely source.
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care for rapidly spreading facial or neck swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding or serious facial trauma.
The Most Important Question: Can the Tooth Still Be Preserved?
Endodontic care is not simply about removing a nerve. The larger goal is deciding whether treating the inside of the tooth can provide a stable foundation for continued use.
That decision generally falls into one of three categories.
The Pulp May Still Recover
Mild irritation can sometimes improve after decay, a leaking restoration or another source of inflammation is corrected. In these situations, treatment may involve a composite dental filling, crown or another restoration rather than root canal therapy.
The Pulp Cannot Heal on Its Own
When inflammation has become irreversible or bacteria have infected the pulp, cleaning and sealing the root canals may allow the surrounding tooth structure to remain in place.
Learn more about the procedure on our Root Canal Treatment page.
The Tooth Cannot Be Restored Predictably
Root canal treatment cannot overcome every structural problem. A tooth may need to be removed when a crack extends deeply into the root, decay has destroyed too much structure or periodontal damage has eliminated the support needed to retain it.
In those situations, Dr. Jafarifar will explain why tooth extraction may provide a more dependable outcome.
How Dr. Jafarifar Investigates the Source
Endodontic diagnosis is often a process of comparing one tooth with the teeth around it. The tooth that seems painful is not always the one causing the problem, and pain can sometimes be referred from another area.
Your evaluation may involve:
- Discussing when the symptoms began and what triggers them
- Checking the tooth for decay, cracks and damaged restorations
- Testing its response to temperature
- Applying gentle pressure to evaluate biting discomfort
- Examining the gums for swelling or drainage
- Comparing the suspected tooth with neighboring teeth
- Using digital X-rays to examine the roots and surrounding bone
An X-ray may reveal deep decay, infection near a root or changes in the supporting bone. It may not clearly show every crack, so the image must be considered along with your symptoms and the clinical examination.
If the findings are uncertain or the case involves complex root anatomy, previous endodontic treatment or a difficult fracture, Dr. Jafarifar may recommend evaluation by an endodontist.
What Root Canal Treatment Actually Changes
Root canal treatment addresses the internal source of inflammation or infection. The procedure removes the affected pulp, cleans and shapes the canal spaces, and seals the interior of the tooth.
Local anesthesia is used to numb the treatment area. Depending on the tooth and complexity of the case, treatment may be completed in one visit or may require additional care.
A treated tooth remains in your mouth and can continue contributing to your bite, but it no longer contains living pulp tissue. It also may have lost considerable structure from decay, fractures or previous restorations.
This is why treatment does not necessarily end when the canals are sealed.
The Inside May Be Treated, but the Outside Still Needs Protection
After root canal treatment, the remaining tooth must be restored so bacteria cannot readily re-enter and the structure can withstand chewing pressure.
A front tooth with limited damage may sometimes be restored with a filling. A back tooth or a tooth with extensive structural loss often benefits from a porcelain dental crown.
The final restoration may help:
- Seal the access opening
- Reinforce weakened tooth structure
- Restore the tooth’s normal shape
- Reestablish comfortable chewing
- Reduce the risk of fracture
Delaying the final restoration can leave the treated tooth vulnerable. Dr. Jafarifar will explain what type of protection is appropriate and when it should be completed.
Why Preserving the Natural Tooth May Matter
When a tooth can be treated and restored with a reasonable prognosis, keeping it may help preserve the natural spacing and function of your bite. The tooth continues to occupy its position without requiring replacement by a bridge, implant restoration or removable appliance.
That does not mean preserving a tooth is always the best decision. The value of endodontic treatment depends on whether the tooth has enough healthy structure, periodontal support and long-term restorative potential.
Dr. Jafarifar considers:
- The depth of decay
- The location and extent of any crack
- The amount of tooth remaining above the gumline
- The condition of the roots
- Bone and gum support
- The likelihood of placing a durable final restoration
- Whether previous treatment has already failed
The objective is not to save a tooth at any cost. It is to determine whether preservation offers a practical and worthwhile result.
Endodontic Problems After Dental Injuries
A fall, sports injury or blow to the mouth can damage the pulp even when the tooth is not visibly broken. The blood supply may be affected, and symptoms may develop immediately or appear much later.
After an injury, watch for:
- New sensitivity
- Pain when touching or chewing with the tooth
- Looseness or displacement
- Darkening of the enamel
- Swelling near the root
- A chip or fracture
Some injured teeth require immediate treatment, while others need monitoring over time. Follow-up examinations can help detect delayed changes in the pulp or surrounding bone.
When Pain Returns After a Previous Root Canal
A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment can occasionally develop new symptoms. This does not always mean the original procedure was performed incorrectly.
Possible reasons include:
- New decay allowing bacteria beneath the restoration
- A loose, cracked or leaking crown
- A previously untreated canal
- Complex root anatomy
- A new fracture
- Reinfection around the root
Retreatment may sometimes preserve the tooth, but these cases frequently require specialized endodontic evaluation. Dr. Jafarifar can assess the restoration and available imaging before recommending the appropriate next step.
Experience With Painful and Compromised Teeth
Dr. Jafarifar has practiced dentistry since 2004 and has led Preferred Family Dentistry since 2006. Her experience includes root canal treatment and thousands of fillings, crowns, bridges and other restorative cases.
This restorative background is important because endodontic treatment must be considered alongside the condition of the entire tooth. Dr. Jafarifar evaluates not only whether the canals can be treated, but also whether the remaining structure can support a useful final restoration.
When a case is outside the appropriate scope of the practice, she refers patients for specialist care rather than presenting every painful tooth as a routine root canal case.
FAQ About Endodontics
What is endodontics?
Endodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions involving the dental pulp, root canals and tissues surrounding the roots of teeth.
Does severe tooth pain always require a root canal?
No. Cavities, damaged restorations, cracks, gum recession and other conditions can cause similar symptoms. An examination is needed to identify the source.
Can an infected tooth stop hurting on its own?
Pain may decrease if the pulp loses its ability to respond, but infection or damage may remain. A tooth that previously caused significant pain should still be evaluated.
Is root canal treatment painful?
Local anesthesia is used to numb the treatment area. Tenderness may occur afterward, particularly when the tooth was significantly inflamed or infected before treatment.
How many visits does endodontic treatment require?
Some cases can be completed in one visit, while others require additional appointments. The timeline depends on the tooth, infection, root anatomy and complexity of treatment.
Will I need a crown after root canal treatment?
Many back teeth and structurally weakened teeth need crown coverage after treatment. The final restoration depends on the tooth’s location and the amount of healthy structure remaining.
When would I need to see an endodontist?
Referral may be recommended for complex anatomy, retreatment, difficult fractures, traumatic injuries, persistent symptoms or procedures requiring specialist-level care.
Do you provide endodontic care in Las Vegas, NV?
Yes. Our dentist evaluates tooth pain, pulp inflammation, infection and other qualifying endodontic concerns for patients in Las Vegas and neighboring communities.
Find the Source Before Deciding on Treatment
Tooth pain does not tell you by itself whether you need a filling, crown, root canal or extraction. A careful diagnosis with a focus on endodonticscan clarify what is happening inside the tooth and whether preserving it remains a practical option.
Call 702-433-0355 to schedule an endodontic evaluation in Las Vegas, NV.