Are you experiencing extreme dental pain? Depending upon the severity of your dental problems, you may be facing a root canal. Root canals will relieve dental pain and can save your teeth. At Gunnel Family Dentistry, we are dedicated to helping our patients with serious dental ailments and concerns. We don’t want you to be in pain! Contact our office as soon as possible if you are experiencing pain so we can determine what is happening with your tooth and if you need root canal treatment.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is required when infection and inflammation occur within the root of a tooth. The infection can damage the tooth’s pulp, leaving a patient in pain and facing a serious risk of losing the tooth and having additional oral health problems. Root canals save the tooth by removing the damaged pulp inside the tooth, cleaning it, and protecting it from further damage.
How is a Root Canal Performed
Depending upon the tooth’s location and the severity of the infection, we may refer you to an endodontist for root canal treatment. An endodontist has additional training and education, and they perform thousands of root canals annually. The endodontist will open the tooth and remove the infected nerve and damaged pulp. The tooth will be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, shaped, filled, and sealed using specialty tools and years of training. If you are facing a lot of infection, the endodontist may have you return for a second visit to complete the root canal treatment. Some patients will need antibiotic medication to clear up the infection and reduce swelling and inflammation.
A root canal is a relatively straightforward procedure. The endodontist will numb the area surrounding the tooth. The numbing may cause some discomfort when it is initially applied but will soon numb the gum tissue deep within the root and surrounding tissue. If you experience any pain during the procedure, let your doctor know immediately. Patients should not feel anything except slight pressure at times during the procedure. The procedure can last approximately an hour or longer, depending upon the amount of inflammation and infection. Once the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed, you can contact Gunnell Family Dental to schedule your follow-up appointment.
Dental Crowns Following Root Canals
It is recommended to receive a dental crown within a year or less following a root canal. A root canal removes the tooth’s nerve, essentially leaving the tooth dead, causing it to become grey. The tooth is also weak and vulnerable to decay and other concerns. A dental crown is placed over the root canal, keeping the structure of the tooth safe and protected.
Our staff is specially trained to work with patients to manage pain, anxiety, and fear about root canals. We understand several stereotypes about root canals, and we are here to assure you a root canal is not as scary as many people have made them sound. With modern advancements, root canals are a relatively standard dental procedure and a long-lasting method to save a decayed tooth. We want our patients to get back to living pain-free! Call Gunnell Family Dentistry in Cache Valley today to discuss more information about root canals, 435-294-3505.
