I have tooth pain when I eat but X-ray shows nothing. Is RCT required?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been having tooth pain for about six weeks. It is only when pressure is applied when I eat. No sensitivity to cold or hot. I went to the dentist and he took X-rays and compared them to routine X-rays taken a couple of months prior. He said the two sets were the same and saw no reason for the pain. He tested my bite with that blue paper and thought the issue might be related to my bite. So, he filed down one of my teeth ever so slightly and thought that would do the trick. Two weeks later, the pain had not subsided, I went back and this time he performed a CT scan. He thought maybe there was a crack or something that was not picked up by the X-ray. The scan was also normal, and he could find no reason for the pain. He said he thinks the best option at this point would be to perform a root canal. Is this the best course of action?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As per your history, there is no pulp cavity exposure or even if there is a crack that will not cause the pain. The reason I think is the dental filling, which may be high (high point). The second reason may be a periodontal problem. I do not think RCT (root canal treatment) is the best possible cause. If you would have any sort of sensitivity, root canal could have been the option. I think it is purely pressure-related. For that get your filling trimmed a little bit. Wait for two to three weeks, I think it will be over.