A root canal, also known as endodontic treatment, is typically performed when a tooth is infected and inflamed. You’ll need this treatment if you are trying to save your tooth and avoid drilling and extractions. At Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL, we offer this well-known dental treatment so you can protect your teeth and restore a healthy smile.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a widely-performed dental treatment. We perform root canals to save your teeth by removing a damaged or inflamed nerve. When the only other option is tooth extraction, this treatment can successfully preserve your teeth.
Tooth pain, sensitivity, and swollen gums come from the affected capillaries that run along the length of the roots of the teeth. By removing the affected nerves and blood vessels, we can alleviate your pain and restore the normal functioning of your teeth. In addition, if you’re dealing with a severe case of tooth decay, you may choose to have an endodontic treatment instead of having your teeth pulled.
How Is the Treatment Performed?
First, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment of your dental condition. The examination usually involves taking an x-ray of your mouth or teeth. We may also ask you to refrain from taking any medication so that we can make a proper diagnosis. A careful, accurate assessment helps us better estimate your tooth’s condition and develop an effective treatment plan.
The infected pulp, nerves, and blood vessels are removed during the treatment. We will also sterilize the remaining parts of your tooth. To facilitate the healing process, we’ll seal the inside of your tooth with a material to prevent it from decomposing and rotting. You will have healthy and natural-looking teeth as the final result.
Does the Treatment Hurt?
Dental treatments are not supposed to hurt! Before proceeding with your root canal, you’ll receive medication that will help you to feel relaxed, pain-free, and comfortable. A local anesthetic will numb your mouth during the treatment process so that you won’t feel the removal of the infected pulp and nerves.
You shouldn’t feel any pain or tooth sensitivity after the treatment. We’ll fill your tooth canals and pulp chamber, restoring the function of your teeth. In addition, we’ll decontaminate and sterilize your teeth to prevent any possible infection.
What Can You Expect During the Treatment?
The treatment often lasts one to two hours, depending on the severity of your case. Within a day after the treatment, you should be able to resume your normal activities. There’s no need for extended downtime. As soon as the numbness in your mouth has worn off, you may start eating food, but we’ll advise you to stick to a soft food diet for a few days.
We’ll schedule a follow-up appointment for a cleaning and assessment of your treatment. Depending on your treatment plan, we may also place a crown or other form of tooth restoration during your follow-up. Your treated tooth will feel just like any other tooth in your mouth after completing the treatment.
The Benefits of the Treatment
Unlike popular belief, a root canal is often less painful and more tolerable than a tooth extraction. The recovery period is minimal, and you should be able to resume your normal activities within a day after the treatment.
If you take good care of your treated teeth, they can stay healthy for the rest of your life. The most significant benefit of endodontic treatment is that you’ll be completely relieved of pain while preventing any tooth infection in the future.
Prevents the Spread of Infection to Nearby Teeth
A tooth infection often results in severe decay and spreads the infection to nearby teeth. In such cases, endodontic treatment can prevent further damage from happening. Urgent treatment and thorough disinfection of your teeth can help stop the cause of toothaches or tooth decay. Once bacteria have been completely removed after the treatment, all your teeth should be much cleaner and healthier. There will be little to no room for the infection to spread.
Improves Your Smile
An endodontic treatment not only involves treating the tooth’s nerve and pulp. It also focuses on improving the outer appearance of your teeth. We may also include the placement of a crown or filling as part of your treatment. The result is that your teeth will look much healthier, and you’ll be able to recover both your tooth’s function and appearance.
Prevents Gaps Between Teeth
Endodontic treatments help you avoid tooth extractions, so you don’t have to worry about losing teeth or ending up with a gap. Severely decayed teeth can still be saved and restored to a healthy and normal condition. The final result of the dental treatment is a natural-looking, beautiful smile.
Preserves Your Jawbones
Tooth extractions can affect the integrity and function of your jaw. A missing tooth, extracted due to severe decay, can cause terrible jawbone complications later on. By choosing to have an endodontic treatment instead of getting your teeth pulled, you can prevent jaw damage. It is more likely to remain intact when your teeth are preserved instead of removed.
Additionally, by treating your tooth infection right away, you can also prevent the infection from spreading to the bones. Many health issues are rooted in dental problems, so you should consider professional treatment sooner rather than later.
Improves Overall Health
Severe tooth decay can also cause damage to your overall health. You may suffer from health complications like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory problems if you delay the treatment of infected teeth. By treating dental infections with urgency, you can also improve and protect your overall health.
Provides Pain Relief
One of the most incredible benefits of the treatment is that you’ll no longer suffer from toothaches. Endodontic treatments can effectively relieve the pressure from the pulp in the tooth. Within a day or two of the treatment, you can enjoy a better life and be free of pain caused by infected teeth.
When Do You Need a Root Canal?
You’ll need professional treatment once your teeth have become inflamed and infected. It is the only way to save your teeth. Most of the time, toothaches and infections do not usually resolve on their own. Dental treatment will be necessary, especially if you’d like to avoid tooth extractions in the future.
You may also need a root canal if:
- Your teeth suffer from extensive decay
- You notice a crack or chip in the tooth
- Multiple dental procedures have weakened your tooth
- You have a defective crown
If your tooth infection does not get treated urgently, you may experience terrible pain or develop abscesses. The infection or inflammation won’t be cured on its own. It will only get worse as time passes.
You Have Painful, Sensitive Teeth
Tooth pain is the most common sign that you need urgent dental treatment. In some cases, tooth pain can go away on its own, but the infection or decay won’t improve. Pain is one of the sure signs that you need to see a dentist as soon as possible.
If you have inflamed blood vessels and nerves, we can prescribe an antibiotic first before proceeding to actual dental treatment. However, after several weeks, if your tooth pain has not improved, endodontic treatment will definitely be necessary. Once your tooth has become significantly damaged, it can never heal on its own. We will have to intervene and prescribe the proper treatment to restore your tooth’s appearance and function.
You’re Suffering From Swollen Gums
A toothache is not the only sign that you need to schedule a dental appointment. You may also need to have a root canal if you are suffering from swollen gums. Sometimes, swollen gums are also caused by an inflamed tooth root. If you also feel discomfort in your throat after brushing the top of your gums, you might be dealing with a tooth infection,
If you notice swollen gums, you should schedule a dental checkup as soon as possible so we can make a proper assessment of your condition. We can then plan any treatment required to reduce the swelling in your gums and address any underlying issues.
Schedule Your Professional Dental Treatment
Some people feel anxious about dental treatments. In reality, there’s nothing for you to worry about because you’ll feel no pain during the treatments. By keeping up to date with your dental checkups and treatments, you won’t need to lose any teeth during adulthood. You can continue eating foods you love after endodontic treatment. With proper oral hygiene, a root canal will last decades without any problems.
If you have dental pain, there’s no need to suffer and wait for it to improve on its own. We are here to address all your oral health and dental concerns. Contact Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL to receive a complete evaluation. We can restore the function and appearance of your teeth, so you won’t have to suffer from tooth loss!
