Tooth pain that comes and goes is not unpredictable in the way most people think. It follows patterns, and those patterns tell a trained eye a great deal about what is happening beneath the surface. A root canal specialist in Hudson, NY, or your regular dentist can map those patterns and give you a real diagnosis before the situation moves into more complex territory. The worst thing to do is wait until the pain becomes unbearable, because by that point, the options available to you have usually narrowed. Act on the pattern, not just the pain.