Downtown Dental Excellence offers

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy (also known as a “root canal”) is a dental procedure that involves the treatment of infected root pulp. This pulp is made up of living connective tissue and can get infected when a tooth is cracked or a cavity has gotten so bad that the infection has spread to the pulp.

Root canal therapy is a very common procedure, and is absolutely necessary to save a tooth once the infection has spread to the pulp. If the tooth is not treated quickly enough, it will likely need to be extracted.

Choose Downtown Dental Excellence for your root canal therapy today.

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(281) 592-0597

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Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?

In order to understand if you need root canal therapy, it’s important to understand the different symptoms of the pulp of a tooth being infected.

Whether it is a good thing or a bad thing, it will be very obvious that there is something wrong once the pulp of your tooth becomes infected. This is because you’ll likely be in a lot of pain!

Some of the symptoms of an infected root pulp include:

  • Pain while trying to chew food.
  • Changes in the shade or color of a tooth.
  • Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods (such as ice cream).
  • A severe toothache.
  • Swelling of the gums.
  • Pain when you apply pressure to the tooth.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should set an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

It’s also important to know just why root canal therapy needs to be done. Some of these reasons include:

  • Trauma to the Tooth
  • Fracture of the Tooth
  • Tooth Decay
  • Dead Tooth Nerve
  • Infection

Don’t allow the issue to persist longer than it needs to. Take care of your infected tooth as soon as you can.

Pulpotomy

Pulpotomy is the term that is generally used for root canal therapy for children.

Keep in mind that your child’s primary teeth are softer than your teeth and are more susceptible to decay. Because of this, they are more likely to get a tooth infection. Pulpotomies are very similar to root canals for adults. Your dentist will decide if pulpotomy is necessary for your child by inspecting their tooth for decay and infection.

Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?

While having an infection in the pulp of a tooth is very painful, the actual procedure to remove the infection is relatively painless. Don’t allow fear of root canal therapy to prevent you from getting the proper care that your tooth needs. If you don’t get a root canal, you risk the tooth being damaged to the point where it can no longer be repaired. Once this has occurred, the only option will be extraction.

The Process

The first step of root canal therapy is visiting your dentist for an exam. There, your dentist will take a look at the tooth and see what the issue is. If it’s just minor decay, you may only need a cavity filled. If the pulp is infected, though, your dentist will decide whether the tooth is able to be saved or not.

Once they make the decision to go ahead with root canal therapy, they will start the treatment by removing any injured pulp. They will then disinfect the root canal system. Once the inside of the tooth is clean, a filling will be used to seal the tooth and prevent any further infection. If the tooth has a significant amount of decay, your dentist may decide to place a dental crown to ensure the strength of the tooth.

During the procedure, your dentist may use local anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia to relieve and prevent any discomfort.

While a root canal may be completed within one visit, it may take more than one visit depending on the amount and type of treatment that is required.

Call Downtown Dental Excellence Today!

(281) 592-0597

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Aftercare

There is no special form of aftercare that is necessary after root canal therapy. It is important, though, for you to contact your dentist if there are any complications after the procedure. If you notice any pain, swelling, or pressure that lasts for a few days, this may be due to a possible infection. Contact your dentist to set an appointment if this is the case.

Avoiding Root Canals

Root canal therapy can generally be avoided with proper oral care. By brushing your teeth, flossing, and rinsing out your mouth at least twice a day, you can prevent infections and tooth decay. If you do notice pain, pressure, or swelling in or around a tooth, set an appointment as soon as possible.

It’s also extremely important to visit your dentist at least twice a year. During a regular checkup, your dentist will be able to catch any cavities that have formed. From there, they can fill the cavities. This will help you to avoid needing root canal therapy down the line.

Costs Involved

The cost of root canal therapy depends on a patient’s individual needs. The severity of the infection will often vary from patient to patient and even from tooth to tooth. A tooth also may be infected to the point where a crown needs to be placed, which will also add to the cost.

While insurance often covers a portion of root canal therapy, there is a chance that you’ll be left with out-of-pocket costs. To learn more about your coverage, speak with your insurance provider.

Root canals really aren’t as scary as many people believe. They are a routine procedure that your dentist has a lot of experience performing. What is scary is what can happen if you let an infection go untreated.

Reach out to schedule an appointment to treat your infected root pulp before the issue progresses and leads to the need for extraction.