You may be fearful about potentially needing a root canal. However, there is nothing to worry about when you are being treated by an experienced dentist. The procedure helps to remove the affected pulp from the center of the tooth to help it heal. Please keep reading, then call to schedule your free consultation to get more information. Our Scottsdale dentist is here to help you get the care you need.
What is a Root Canal?
Root canals are procedures in which infected tooth pulp is removed from the center of your affected tooth or teeth in an attempt to save the tooth from abscess or extraction. Your dentist will likely use a local anesthetic to perform your procedure. It is essential to choose a dentist with which you feel comfortable and confident.
Who Needs a Root Canal?
If a dentist determines that your tooth pulp has become inflamed and infected, they will likely want to perform a root canal. You will need to visit a dentist for them to determine if this is the proper treatment for you since it will likely be challenging to tell for yourself. In many cases, your tooth pulp may be infected, but the crown of your tooth is completely intact.
The pulp can become infected if you have untreated cavities, have had multiple procedures done on one tooth, cracked your tooth, or injured it.
Symptoms that point to your pulp being infected include sensitivity, pain, swelling, and your gums feeling hot around the affected tooth. Your dentist will use imaging to diagnose your condition.
What Does the Procedure Entail?
You will go to your dentist’s office to have your root canal procedure. They will check you in and get you situated in the chair with a bib around your neck.
Your dentist will begin by numbing the area with medication applied to the gum. They will inject a local anesthetic into the gum to further numb the area. This part typically feels like a pinch and a little bit of heat. You will be awake during this procedure.
Once they check to see if you are numb, your dentist is going to make an entryway into the inside of your tooth to gain access to the pulp. Your dentist will carefully clean out the whole area to remove infected tissue.
You will have antibiotics placed topically on the area to prevent further infection. Your dentist will seal your tooth and fill it with a temporary sealant.
What Follow-up Care is Needed?
Immediately following your treatment, you will likely have some soreness and swelling. You can manage these symptoms with ice packs and over-the-counter pain relievers. It is best to avoid chewing with the tooth that your dentist just treated, and you may prefer softer foods immediately following your root canal.
Following a liquid diet is not typically necessary, but you should avoid sticky or hard foods around the tooth that has just been treated. Sticky and hard foods can disrupt your temporary filling, which means you have to go back to your dentist immediately to avoid complications.
You will need to return to your dentist after your root canal to get your permanent filling placed. After this, you are finished with the procedure and should proceed to take excellent care of your teeth.
Get Your Free Consultation with Our Scottsdale Dentist
If you have questions about the root canal procedure and you need to get your teeth examined to receive a diagnosis, please reach out to us right away. Our Scottsdale dentist, Dr. Seerat Mann, and her team are dedicated to providing you with the care you need. Schedule your free consultation with us right away.
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