Root Canals
At Vero Dental, we offer root canal treatment to save teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Root canals are a common fear for patients, but treatment has progressed a long way in recent decades. Treatment isn’t what causes dental pain, it relieves it! Modern root canal treatment is easy and seamless for patients, and patient comfort is one of our highest priorities.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
There are a numbe rof warning signs that a tooth may need root canal treatment:
- The tooth becoming loose. If an adult tooth feels loose, that’s a symptom of infection. Acidic waste products from a dead tooth can soften the surrounding bone.
- A chipped or cracked tooth. Damage to a tooth (whether it comes from an accident or happens while chewing) can introduce bacteria to the pulp chamber inside the tooth, inflaming and infecting it.
- Sensitivity and tooth pain. The pulp dying inside a tooth can irritate the periodontal ligament around the root tip, which can cause sharp pain when touching the tooth or trying to chew with it.
- Swollen gums. If the gums swell up around a painful tooth, that’s a good sign that it needs root canal treatment. It could mean an abscess. Dental abscesses may create bad breath and a foul taste.
- Discoloration of the tooth. An infected tooth sometimes changes color — not just at the surface. It may take on a grayish-black appearance as the internal tissue breaks down.
What is a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy (also called endodontic treatment) is a dental procedure in which decayed dental pulp is removed so that the rest of the natural tooth doesn’t need to be extracted. More than 15 million people in the US benefit from this procedure every year. It is very routine and safe.
Choosing a Root Canal Versus an Extraction
A patient with a problem tooth might be tempted to simply have it pulled, but extraction should only be a last resort. Some teeth are too damaged from decay or injury to be saved with root canal therapy, but nothing on the market is going to do a better job of being a tooth than our own natural teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canals
Many of our patients ask us the same questions about root canals:
"Do I Need a Crown After a Root Canal?"
It depends on the tooth. Sometimes a filling is enough seal the tooth, but in some cases, the natural crown is too damaged and an artificial crown needs to be placed.
“Is a root canal painful?”
One of the most common symptoms of an infected tooth is a severe toothache, and that’s what root canal treatment relieves. In the past, before anesthesia was available, root canal treatment was painful, but modern root canal treatment is very comfortable for the patient and has one of the highest surgical success rates.
“How should I prepare before undergoing root canal treatment?”
There are a few things patients can do before their procedure. Start out by getting plenty of rest the night before. Eat regular meals (unless you will be on I.V. sedation, in which case we will give you specific instructions). Before coming to our office, you can take a basic over-the-counter pain reliever to manage your existing toothache and to help with post-operation soreness. Come prepared with insurance information. Most of all, try to relax!
“What happens if an infected tooth is left untreated?”
A tooth infection will not go away on its own. The pain may stop if the pulp inside the tooth dies, but the bacteria will continue to multiply and the infection can spread down the root and into the jaw and gums. It can cause a painful dental abscess, and if it remains untreated long enough, the infection may spread to the bloodstream, which can be deadly. We urge our patients to seek treatment as early as they notcie a problem. The team at Vero Dental can help!
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