Root Canal Therapy
Are you under the impression that root canal therapy is a painful dental treatment? You are not alone. This myth has been around for decades, most likely started due to the main reason for seeking root canal therapy – extreme tooth pain. The fact is that root canals are no more painful than filling a large cavity. What is painful is the infected tooth that is pressing down on the nerve inside. At Amber Hills Dental, we can stop the pain and save your infected tooth with gentle, virtually painless root canal therapy.
Infections inside of the tooth that require root canal therapy usually stem from decay or damage to the tooth. The exterior or outer layer of the tooth becomes compromised and allows bacteria and decay into the interior pulp of the tooth. This layer is softer and decays quicker than the outer tooth, quickly working down to the root. When this infection takes hold, the inflammation or abscess can begin killing the nerve, causing extreme pain.
Root Canals Offer Pain Relief for Infected Teeth!
Once the infection has reached the nerve root, there are only two options: extraction or root canal therapy. Saving your tooth is always the best option when possible. Root canal therapy removes the infected portion of the tooth, including the nerve root. Once the nerve is gone, so is your pain. The tooth then can be repacked with sterile material and covered with a dental crown for protection. In one visit to our office, the infected tooth pain will be gone.
There is no reason to fear root canal therapy, especially when you come to Amber Hills Dental. We always ensure our patients are comfortable with a cozy blanket and pillow. You can watch a show on Netflix on the flat screen TV using wireless headphones while we do your root canal. Or choose a sedation option and just drift off while we fix your tooth. Contact us today to stop the pain and save your tooth.
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How can I avoid root canals?
Harmful bacteria is often able to find its way inside a tooth through untreated tooth decay or dental trauma, which leads to a tooth infection that requires a root canal treatment. Taking care of cavities and cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged teeth as soon as possible helps reduce the odds of a root canal becoming necessary. If one of your dental restorations, like a crown, bridge, or veneer, seems loose or comes off completely, you will want to get it replaced promptly to keep the tooth or teeth underneath protected as well.
What’s the difference between a filling and a root canal?
Fillings are used to replace decayed areas of teeth once the decay has been removed. Root canals treat the inside of the tooth and are considered more invasive than dental fillings as a result. If a filling was recommended and the patient puts off treatment for too long, they may find that a root canal is now necessary instead. This is why we always advise patients to schedule dental exams regularly and schedule restorative dental work as soon as they can.
What can I eat after a root canal?
Once your treatment is complete, we recommend that you avoid eating until the numbness in your mouth wears off to avoid biting your tongue or the inside of your cheek. Then, you can eat whatever you would like, but many patients tend to start with something that doesn’t require a ton of chewing. It’s also advisable to chew with the other side of your mouth as much as possible. After a few days, you should be able to completely return to your normal eating habits.