Question 1

how can you tell the difference between a cavity and root canal on an x-ray?

Accepted Answer

Color: A cavity appears as a dark area on the crown of the tooth, whereas a root canal appears as a white line in the root of the tooth.

Question 2

pain months after root canal.did an x-ray and it was short filled. tooth is sensitive to hot cold and sweet. what to do?

Accepted Answer

Incomplete RCT: If the tooth had RCT, even if filled short, it's unlikely the tooth is sensitive to hot, cold and sweet. The source of that pain may be coming from another tooth. Having said that, you might have to have the RCT redone by a better qualified dentist. If none available you probably should have the tooth extracted if it hurts or there is an infection present.

Question 3

i want to know if x-ray is required before a root canal procedure or can it be done without one?

Accepted Answer

Required: A radiograph is required to determine how much tooth structure remains, the shape and position(s) of the canal(s), bone support, and periapical pathology. It also records the condition of the tooth on that day, and can be referred to in the future. Performing major treatment on teeth without an x-ray is like driving with your eyes closed... Not recommended.

Question 4

if looking at an x-ray, what tells a dentist whether you need a root canal?

Accepted Answer

Disease: Large decay, infection around the end of the root, among other clinical input the dentist obtains.

Question 5

how can a dentist tell that you need a root canal? after looking at an x-ray my dentist told me that i need a root canal. i was kind of in shock though, and forgot to ask what exactly she saw that let her know i need a root canal. what do dentists see tha

Accepted Answer

Besides : Besides your clinical symptoms (tooth pain, gum swelling) the features on an x-ray that might indicated you required a root canal include decay extending into a pulp chamber or radiolucency at the tip of the root.  The clinical and x-ray exam is usually confirmed with testing the vitality of the tooth.

Question 6

i was diagnosed with a menigioma two years ago no growth 7 mm i just had my teeth x-rayed and will now have to have another x-ray due to needing a root canal scared this will cause the meningioma to grow

Accepted Answer

: The radiation exposure from these procedures will not affect the meningioma. Wish you good health.

Question 7

can a standard x-ray in a dentists office really show if a fistula tract has healed 2 months following a root canal retreatment?

Accepted Answer

Comparison: Yes.  They compare pre and post root canal to see if there is bone healing

Question 8

the x-ray of the filling looks fine but my tooth has been hurting a lot. could you need root canal before it shows on x-ray? ialso got numbed today plus could still feel pain in my tooth.why?

Accepted Answer

Possible root canal : Hard to "numb" and a tooth that was filled being painful, may mean you will need a root canal treatment (rct),  but possibly not.  Early need for rct may not show on x-ray, but symptoms may define the need.  Call & see your dentist, sometimes deep decay, when removed &filled will be sensitive for several days.

Question 9

tooth #14 and #15 need new crowns. have pocketing which is going to be corrected with laser. when the gum hurts in between those teeth #19 on lower also hurts. x-ray at perio showed nothing obvious on #19 which has an old root canal. referred pain?

Accepted Answer

: It appears that it is referred pain through the trigeminal nerve which has multiple branches, especially since the pain on #19 only occurs when #14/15 hurt.

Question 10

i need ideas about what may be wrong with a #31 molar, where i had a root canal done 2.5 years ago. it is sunday now. i saw my dentist on friday. she took an x-ray of #31. good news was she saw nothing wrong: no decay, no cracks, nothing that indicates th

Accepted Answer

Scenarios : Scenarios like this are typically due to a fracture.  Fractures are typically not seen on x-rays unless there is separation of the pieces.  Also if this is a failure of the root canal, it may be too early to see changes on the x-ray.  New x-ray technology call cone beam (cbt) has improved our diagnosis of fractures and failing root canals.  I would recommend an evaluation by an endodontist (root canal specialist).

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Doctor answers about:

Root canal x ray diagnosis

A member asked:

How can you tell the difference between a cavity and root canal on an x-ray?

A member asked:

Pain months after root canal.did an x-ray and it was short filled. tooth is sensitive to hot cold and sweet. what to do?

A member asked:

I want to know if x-ray is required before a root canal procedure or can it be done without one?

A member asked:

If looking at an x-ray, what tells a dentist whether you need a root canal?

A member asked:

How can a dentist tell that you need a root canal? after looking at an x-ray my dentist told me that i need a root canal. i was kind of in shock though, and forgot to ask what exactly she saw that let her know i need a root canal. what do dentists see tha

A member asked:

I was diagnosed with a menigioma two years ago no growth 7 mm i just had my teeth x-rayed and will now have to have another x-ray due to needing a root canal scared this will cause the meningioma to grow

A member asked:

Can a standard x-ray in a dentists office really show if a fistula tract has healed 2 months following a root canal retreatment?

A member asked:

The x-ray of the filling looks fine but my tooth has been hurting a lot. could you need root canal before it shows on x-ray? ialso got numbed today plus could still feel pain in my tooth.why?

A member asked:

Tooth #14 and #15 need new crowns. have pocketing which is going to be corrected with laser. when the gum hurts in between those teeth #19 on lower also hurts. x-ray at perio showed nothing obvious on #19 which has an old root canal. referred pain?

A member asked:

I need ideas about what may be wrong with a #31 molar, where i had a root canal done 2.5 years ago. it is sunday now. i saw my dentist on friday. she took an x-ray of #31. good news was she saw nothing wrong: no decay, no cracks, nothing that indicates th

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