Everyone wants a beautiful smile. Some patients will go to great lengths to achieve one. But have you ever thought how just saving a tooth can improve your smile? A tooth that cannot be saved must be extracted, which leaves an unsightly hole in your smile. Additionally, your teeth on either side of the hole left by the extraction may shift in an effort to fill the hole. If you must have a tooth extracted or have had one extracted in the past, we can fill the hole by several means, including a bridge or an implant. However, root canal treatment can often be used to save a tooth so that an extraction becomes unnecessary.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is a service performed by a dentist on a tooth with significant decay or infection. The purpose of the treatment is to save the tooth so that it does not have to be extracted. During the treatment, a root canal dentist will remove any portion of the tooth that is infected or decayed along with its root structure. The space vacated by the roots is then filled with an inert material that seals the root system to prevent further decay. In most cases, it is almost impossible to see where a root canal procedure has been performed because the original crown of the tooth has been preserved or has been replaced by a custom dental crown.
Our Goal is to save your teeth!
Don’t let a tooth ache turn into an extraction. Root Canal Therapy can save your tooth!
How Will I Know If I Need a Root Canal?
You cannot look at your teeth and determine whether you need a root canal. The only way to know for sure is to visit a local dentist who will perform an examination and make X-rays. However, any of the following symptoms may prompt you to ask the question “Where can I get a root canal near me?”
• Persistent pain in your teeth, jaw or face
• Sensitivity to hot and cold food and drink
• Sensitivity to pressure
• Tooth discoloration
• Tooth with a loose feel
• Chipped or cracked teeth
• Swollen or infected gums
If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit a dentist as soon as possible. Whether these symptoms indicate a tooth in need of a root canal or something else, it is best not to wait. Waiting will only exacerbate the problem and may lead to further decay that could require an extraction.
Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?
Although a patient undergoing a root canal may experience slight pressure, most patients report very little or no pain when the procedure is performed by a qualified root canal dentist. Some liken it to the same pain level as having a filling. Most patients do well with local anesthesia that is administered to the gum area surrounding the subject tooth. However, patients who experience severe anxiety or have other health issues that prevent local anesthesia may opt for sedation and can actually sleep through the entire procedure.
