Root Canal Therapy
Relieve Your Pain and Save Your Tooth
Is one of your teeth in excruciating pain? You might be under the impression that the tooth needs to be extracted, but oftentimes we can relieve your pain and save your tooth with a procedure called root canal therapy. This endodontic treatment removes the inner portion of your tooth, including the nerve, that is causing your intense toothache. Drs. Michael and Laura Ryan can employ root canal therapy to prevent the oral health problems that can arise from having a tooth extracted. If you’ve been suffering from a terrible toothache, give us a call today. A root canal may be just the thing your smile needs!
Do I Need a Root Canal?
With more than 15 million root canals performed every year, it’s quickly becoming a common procedure. Although they are widely used, our dentists will typically only recommend it when all other options to save your tooth have been exhausted. Besides taking x-rays and closely examining your tooth, we will look for symptoms, such as:
- Darkening of the tooth or its surrounding gum tissue
- Pain when applying pressure to the tooth
- Persistent toothache
- Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli
- Pimple-like bump on the gums near the affected tooth
How Does the Procedure Work?
After we have taken x-rays to determine whether a root canal is necessary, we can begin the procedure. We start by administering a local anesthetic. You may have heard unfortunate rumors that root canals are painful, but they are just that – rumors. Thanks to local anesthesia, and even sedation if need be, you should feel minimal discomfort during your procedure.
Once the area is numb, we create a small hole in the tooth to access the inner chamber, known as the pulp. The damaged pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is sterilized. We then replace the pulp with a synthetic material called gutta-percha before sealing the tooth back up and placing a temporary dental crown over it. A few weeks later, after you’ve finished healing, you’ll return to our Allen office to trade in your temporary for a permanent crown to protect your tooth for years to come.
What Can I Expect After a Root Canal?
Following your procedure, your mouth should feel significantly better. Most of our patients report an immediate relief from the pain that plagued them beforehand. You can resume brushing and flossing as normal right away. However, you may want to stick to a soft food diet for a few days as your mouth recovers. Avoid chewing anything particularly hard or sticky with your temporary crown, as that could break or dislodge it. For a few days, you may experience some soreness, but this can be managed by taking your prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications as instructed on the label.
What Are the Benefits of Root Canal Therapy?
Despite its daunting reputation, root canal therapy comes with a host of benefits, including:
- Relief from your severe toothache
- Improved ability to bite and chew with the treated tooth
- Minimal discomfort during the procedure
- Preserving healthy tooth structure and avoiding the complications that can come from a tooth extraction