Need an Estelle Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is an important dental procedure that can save badly damaged teeth. During a root canal treatment, the pulp of the tooth is removed, and the tooth is sealed to prevent further infection. The pulp is the soft tissue of the tooth. These soft tissues include blood vessels, the nerve and connective tissues. They nurture the developing tooth and provide sensation to the tooth, but they are not strictly necessary to the fully developed tooth. Estelle Root Canal Dental Clinic offers root canal treatments to preserve the health of your smile.
In the past, severely decayed or injured teeth would often need to be extracted to prevent dental disease from spreading. Today, root canal treatment can save many teeth that would have been lost. Although the therapy has gotten a reputation for being a painful procedure, it is typically no more uncomfortable than a dental filling would be. Modern dental anesthesia is used to ensure maximum comfort. However, the infection or injury that led to the need for root canal therapy can cause significant pain for some patients, and this can lead to some lingering discomfort after the procedure.
The soft tissue within the tooth is alive, but when it becomes inflamed, damaged or infected due to injury or deep decay, the pulp can deteriorate and die. Tissue death can lead to an abscess or infection, which can affect the gums and damage the bone supporting the tooth.
Signs that indicate the need for root canal therapy include:
- Severe throbbing pain
- Lingering pain when the tooth is exposed to heat or cold
- Swelling in the gums near the root of the tooth
- Discoloration of the tooth or the gums around the tooth
- Pain with pressure
In some cases, you might have no symptoms at all.
The pulp can be removed without interfering with the function of the tooth. In fact, after the root canal, the tooth can be restored with a dental crown and can continue to function as any other tooth.
What to Expect
Before a root canal procedure, the tooth will be examined, and an X-ray will be taken. This allows us to determine the extent of the infection and identify the number of root canals the tooth has and their specific locations and shapes. Next, we will create a treatment plan and explain the process. Most root canals can be completed in a single appointment, but if your tooth is severely infected or your case is complex, you might need more than one appointment to complete the process.
During the procedure, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues. This prevents you from feeling any discomfort or pain. The tooth is isolated to keep it clean and dry during the procedure. Once you are fully numb, we carefully access the root canals to remove the infected tissues. This should not hurt, and once the infection has been removed, you will likely experience significant pain relief. The root canals will be shaped and widened before being disinfected and then sealed. A temporary filling may be placed until the tooth can be permanently restored.
After the Root Canal
Most patients have little or no post-root canal treatment discomfort. If your infection was serious, you might have some pain until the inflammation is completely gone. This can be managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Our team can recommend specific medications as needed. We may also prescribe antibiotics in some cases. Take all medications exactly as we recommend for the best results. Good dental hygiene is important after a root canal and can promote healing and reduce the risk of complications.
If you are suffering from symptoms that indicate an abscessed, badly decayed or injured tooth, you might need a root canal treatment. Contact your new Estelle root canal team, Southern Dental Clinic today to learn more about root canal therapy or to schedule an appointment.