Tough to say.  I can't imagine keeping dry ice around to test
sensitivity to cold.  In any case, while I can't rule out the need for
root canal treatment, cold sensitivity that only lasts a second or two
after the source of cold is removed is consistant with a nerve that may
well be healthy.  I'd suggest a second opinion.  If nothing shows up on
x-ray and the sensitivity is only to cold you have little to lose trying
a desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne or Dequel for a month or so.

Steve

Please be aware of the risks of root canals.

[haven't checked these links in a while.  Some may not work].
Still you can hopefully get the picture.

http://www.toothwisdom.net/r.root_canals.html

http://www.integratedhealthpractice.com/treatment.asp#Root

 ll root cancel fillings have the potential to casue bad health. This
is because, althought the nerve has been removed, bacteria still
colonise in the minute tubules of a tooth. These bacteria produce
toxins which enter the body causing potential harm.
An area of residual infection which is left under the gum, usually
following, but sometimes a long time after an extraction can cause
problems. Symptoms can be coincided with the energetic links to the
body as well as localised problems.

http://www.zip.com.au/~rgammal/RCTframeset.htm

http://www.ericdavisdental.com/root_canals.htm

http://www.whale.to/d/root2.html

http://www.drshankland.com/rootcanal.html

http://webpages.charter.net/kyarbrough/rootcanals.htm

http://www.dentistry-toothtruth.com/faq.htm

http://www.cfsn.com/maz/

http://cnorman.best.vwh.net/blazing/dental.html

http://rheumatic.org/teeth.htm

http://www.zip.com.au/~rgammal/root_therapies.htm

http://zap.intergate.ca/root.html

http://www.dentistryholistic.com/education.html

http://www.hugnet.com/Root_Canals.html

http://www.karlloren.com/ultrasound/p25.htm

http://www.hallvtox.dircon.co.uk/hallvt.html

Root Canals. A tooth has miles of tiny canals running through the root.
A dead
or root filled tooth will have bacteria in these canals. There is no
way of
removing the bacteria once they are in there.

http://www.toothwisdom.net/

Toxicity from Root Canals

The next subject to be discussed are root canals and their possible
source of
toxicity. Approximately twenty five million Americans undergo root
canal
therapy every year in an effort to prevent the loss of teeth that have
abscessed. The root canal is the left portion of the tooth which houses
the
vital organs such as the nerve and blood vessels. The dentist endeavors
to
clean and sterilize this canal and fill it with a sterile, non toxic
inert
material. This usually renders this tooth serviceable and non painful;
however,
the entire inner hard core of the tooth is made of dentin which has
several
million dentinal tubules. These tubules allow the circulation of
lymphatic type
fluid to circulate from the vital organs of the root canal to the
outside of
the tooth. This is a viable circulatory phenomenon which has a purpose.
It
services the periodontal ligament as well as the sensory aspect of the
nerve
and blood centers in the root canal. If the body chemistry is healthy,
the flow
of lymphatic fluid is from the root canal to the outside of the tooth.
This
creates an irrigation for the tooth and usually prevents the
accumulation of
plaque to form. When the body chemistry is not healthy, then the
circulation is
from the outside of the tooth to the inner root canal. This allows for
no
irrigation, but rather an accumulation of plaque to form. There are
many more
reasons for maintaining the integrity of the circulation in the
dentinal
tubules. Root canal therapy completely destroys this integrity, and
what
happens to the non-circulating fluid in these tubules? This fluid as it
ages
becomes stagnant and becomes a toxic substance. This porous structure
now
becomes a septic mass emanating poisons into the body. Is this what you
want?
Mercury amalgams are said to be the caskets of the body. Root canals
are said
to be the cadavers of the body.

I do not recommend root canals for anyone. Each individual has a right
to their
decisions. Many people simply do not wish to lose a member of their
body. I
respect this, and I always discuss the consequences.

The next area of discussion is whether the root canal filling actually
sterilizes the apical end of the tooth. There are so many lateral
canals at the
root end of the tooth where bacteria can harbor that it is unlikely
that a
complete aseptic condition exists. This, however, is a debateable
subject.
Again, the complete acceptance of root canal therapy as a viable
substitution
for extraction is completely and whole heartedly supported by organized
dentistry. You are in violation of the code of ethics if you speak out
against
root canal therapy. When I was a practicing dentist, I always let the
patient
make that decision after explaining all pros and cons.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Jan

there is sumbody here called Jane Drew or someone who says route canal
are bad

--
Joel34