It seem reasonable to wonder if you need to go ahead with treatment when you don’t have any symptoms. After all, when you sprain an ankle or have the flu, you know there is a health problem. But tooth decay is like other health conditions - high blood pressure, anemia, or diabetes - that can exist without any symptoms at first. Decay doesn’t cause pain until it reaches the pulp or nerve. If we catch decay early, you can avoid pain and possible root canal treatment. In fact, by the time a decayed tooth hurts, it’s usually too late to save the tooth with a filling.