Root canal treatment can be intimidating, but it is sometimes necessary to save your tooth. People have been giving root canals a bad rep for years, but done properly they don’t have to be a painful experience. In fact, a root canal treatment is meant to relieve pain, not cause it. Here are our answers to a few common questions about root canal treatment.
Desoto Family Dental Care is dedicated to giving patients the best dental experience possible with any procedure, and that is especially true for root canals. Dr. Seymour, Parolli, and Trotter have over 60 years of total experience practicing dentistry, so you can trust them and their team to give you excellent care.
Why Do I need a Root Canal?
When the pulp inside of the tooth becomes inflamed or infected, a root canal is necessary. The pulp is a soft tissue inside of the tooth’s root canals that contains blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. Pulp fills the long channels that protrude from the bottom of the tooth and hold your tooth to your jaw. It can become inflamed or infected for several reasons: severe decay, a crack or broken tooth, or if the tooth has been subjected to many procedures.
It is not only the tooth that is at risk when foregoing a root canal procedure. The infection can spread to your other teeth, gums and jaw bone. Unfortunately, this infection is not something that can heal itself, and the health consequences of refusing a root canal can be dangerous.
What Does the Process Entail?
To stop the spread of infection, your dentist or endodontist will need to remove the pulp from the inside of the tooth. They will start by using a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and keep you comfortable. They will use specialized tools to gently clean out the tooth all the way down to the ends of the roots. Before continuing, your dentist will likely use a safe disinfectant to kill any remaining bacteria inside of the tooth that could cause future problems.
Next, your tooth needs to be refilled and reconstructed. The most common filling material is a rubber-like substance called gutta percha. Reconstruction will be different depending on the tooth. Commonly, the tooth will need a crown to restore the strength of the top of your tooth from the procedure.
What Happens After a Root Canal?
Your root canal should restore your tooth to its normal functions, and without the pain. Once your mouth heals from the procedure after a couple of days, you should not feel any pain or discomfort like you would have before the procedure. It is important to maintain proper dental hygiene and visit the dentist regularly to prevent any further problems with that tooth, and to keep your other teeth healthy as well.
Contact Us
Are you having tooth pain? If you are, you might be in need of a root canal to alleviate the pain. Come see us at Desoto Family Dental Care for a checkup so we can assess your pain to see what the best options are to help you. Contact us here or give us a call at 662-429-5239 today!