Worried about tooth and infection

[anxious_thoughts]

Couple years back I had a bad cavity. The dentist cleaned it up for me but said if it keeps hurting I might need a root canal. That was 5 years ago possibly.

Lately the same tooth hurts a bit, it feels sensitive to the cold sometimes. And along my jaw line, if I touch where the tooth is, it hurts a bit.

Now this has been for many years on and off. Not consistent. But I’m so afraid after reading about something about the infection spreading to your brain. I’ll probably go to the dentist next week. But I’m so afraid of going there. My anxiety gets so bad being in the chair.

Just so much anxiety about this tooth. :(

[ErinKC]

You’ll likely just need the root canal. If it was a deep cavity over time the nerve can start getting irritated and causing that aching. I have a crown on a tooth that had a really deep cavity and it will ache now and then. The last time I had it checked they still thought I didn’t need the root canal.

I had another tooth years ago that just caused me tons of problems and kept getting reinfected. When it was infected it was very obvious and also not a big deal. It never spread anywhere else.