When tooth decay becomes too extensive, it can reach the innermost part of your tooth—the pulp. This vital part contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues that help the tooth develop and grow. However, it can be extremely painful when it gets infected, forcing you to search for a “root canal dentist near me.”
Root canal therapy is very common—in fact, endodontists perform about 15 million root canals in the United States every year. If you suspect you need this treatment or were advised to get it by your dentist, here’s what you need to know about it.
What Is a Root Canal?
Infections in the pulp of your teeth, which is the innermost layer, can be treated with a root canal. They are frequently required when oral bacteria infiltrate the tooth's pulp, causing pulpitis, a painful inflammation. A bacterial attack on your tooth pulp may occur if:
- You have a deep cavity that needs treatment.
- You have a cracked or damaged tooth, and bacteria from plaque infects your tooth pulp.
Despite the discomfort this treatment may cause, getting a root canal is necessary to reduce inflammation and restore your tooth’s health. Often, this allows dentists to save the tooth, avoiding more extreme treatments like a dental extraction.
What Are Some Signs That I Need Root Canal Therapy
While teeth may become infected and show no symptoms, pulp infections tend to have many noticeable effects. These may include:
- A Persistent Toothache: Experience dental sensitivity after biting an especially tough food or drinking cold or hot beverages is common—but if the pain feels deep in the tooth or spreads to your jaw, face, or other teeth, you may have an infection.
- Swollen Gums: You may experience swelling or tenderness in your gums if you have an infected tooth.
- Pimple on Your Gums: Your gums may develop boils or pimples that leak foul-smelling pus. These are known as tooth abscesses.
- Swollen Jaw: If the pus from your infected tooth does not drain away, your jaw may swell.
- Discolored Tooth: A tooth pulp infection prevents blood from reaching your tooth, which could cause it to turn dark.
- Loose Tooth: Your tooth may feel loose because pus from an infected tooth pulp can soften the bones that hold it in place. This could lead to tooth loss, so seeking immediate help is key.
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
During a root canal, your dentist will remove the infected pulp to help reduce inflammation and discomfort. After cleaning and disinfecting the interior of your tooth, they apply a filling to close the gap. In other words, a root canal removes infection while protecting a tooth from further damage and decay.
The steps during this process include:
- The first step is to thoroughly examine the state of your tooth. This entails taking dental X-rays of the afflicted tooth and performing several tests, such as tapping the tooth with a hot or cold substance to assess sensitivity or discomfort to ascertain whether the tooth pulp is dead.
- Because root canals can be painful, your doctor will numb your infected tooth and surrounding gums. The medication can make you feel sleepy, so having someone pick you up after treatment is necessary.
- The dentist covers your infected tooth and surrounding gums with a thin, flexible piece of rubber called a dental dam. This helps keep your tooth dry and clean during treatment.
- Then, they’ll drill a tiny hole in your tooth’s crown to access the pulp.
- They will carefully remove nerves, blood vessels, and tissues inside your tooth pulp with tiny dental instruments.
- Following pulp removal, your provider cleans and disinfects your root canals and pulp chamber.
- They then use gutta-percha, a flexible, rubbery dental substance, to fill the root canals and empty the pulp chamber.
- Following that, your dentist seals your tooth with a temporary dental filling. The seal keeps bacteria from entering while providing stability.
- Finally, your provider will place a dental crown on your treated tooth. Dental crowns protect your teeth and restore your bite, which is how your teeth fit together when you bite down. This final step may take two or three weeks because dental crowns are custom-designed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Therapy
Do you still have any doubts about this treatment? Here are some frequently asked questions about root canal therapy to help you!
Is Applying a Dental Crown Necessary After Root Canal Always Necessary?
No, depending on the condition of your tooth, the size of the removed cavity, the location in your mouth, and your preferences, you may be able to forego the dental crown after root canal therapy. Still, we recommend it to fully restore your tooth to optimal health.
Your dental pulp provides constant nourishment to your tooth, which is why crowns are necessary to reinforce a fragile and vulnerable tooth. According to the Journal of Conservative Dentistry, back teeth with crowns, such as molars, are less likely to crack or fracture in the years following root canal treatment.
Why Are Root Canals So Painful?
Root canals are notoriously famous for being painful. However, nowadays, sedation options and advanced treatments make the procedure painless. The truth is that removing the infection relieves the pain, so root canals are intended to provide relief.
After the procedure, you might feel some minor pain and discomfort for a few days. You can use painkillers to manage this pain, which is normal to feel for a while.
Can You Prevent a Root Canal?
You can prevent a root canal by maintaining good oral hygiene habits. Because bacterial infections and cavities cause them, root canals can often be avoided by brushing your teeth after meals, flossing daily, and having regular dental checkups.
Alleviate Your Pain with the Best Root Canal Dentist Near Me
Root canals are effective treatments for restoring damaged, inflamed, or infected teeth. They are usually the best alternative to tooth extraction because they remove all decayed and damaged material, including enamel, pulp, and dentin.
Most patients find that a root canal relieves the pain, tenderness, and sensitivity that prompted them to visit the dentist. If you believe you could benefit from a root canal treatment, contact Mirror Lake and let us assess your situation in detail!
