Your teeth are coated by a sturdy glossy white covering known as enamel. The enamel only has one job; to keep the inner parts of the tooth safe from bacteria. That’s why teeth are the sturdiest tissue in the body. Even though your teeth are sturdy, they need daily love, care, and regular checkups performed by our
dentist in Powell.
Negligence, on the other hand, can be very costly. You will lose a lot of money, time, and your teeth. Your oral health will be in jeopardy because many problems, such as tooth infections, can arise when you don’t clean your teeth as you should.
Tooth infections may seem minute at their onset, but they quickly progress and can cause debilitating pain and discomfort. Once they reach the inner parts of the tooth, you will need root canal treatment. Root canals are essential if you want to save an infected tooth. Let’s peer into the nitty-gritty of this treatment.
When Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?
If you are not a seasoned dentist like our own
Dr Michael Solly, you might have difficulty determining whether you need root canal treatment. Therefore, you need to know the tell-tale signs that indicate that your tooth is infected and requires root canal treatment. So, if you experience any of the following symptoms, then there’s a chance that you need root canal therapy:
If you experience tooth sensitivity or a dull ache, especially when the pain lingers after you have stopped drinking or eating, you might need endodontics near you.
Tooth discoloration can occur because of eating teeth-staining foods or drinks. But this is not the only cause of tooth discoloration. At times, the breakdown of the internal tissue and trauma to the tooth can damage the roots and cause your teeth to appear greyish-black.
The pulp houses blood vessels, so if there’s inadequate blood supply, the pulp can die, meaning you need a root canal near you.
If you notice your gums are swollen near the painful tooth, there is something wrong with your root canal. The swelling could indicate that there is acidic waste and dead tissue. You can also notice a little pimple or a gum boil.
The pain usually signals that something is not working right. So, if you have persistent pain that bothers you every time or goes away occasionally, you might have a root canal.
Are Root Canals Painful?
Local anesthesia has been one of the best discoveries in modern medicine. Our dentist near you can perform invasive procedures without causing any pain. The procedure cannot commence without the area being numb.
So, our dentist will administer the proper dosage of the anesthetic to ensure that the area is numb. After it is numb, our dentist will proceed with the procedure, making it a pain-free affair.
How Is Root Canal Treatment Performed?
A typical root canal near you will take more than one dental appointment. You can expect at least two dental appointments; you might need three if your case is severe. In any case, expect the following:
- Preparation
Our dentist will commence by taking x-rays to check the state of your affected tooth. The X-rays allow our dentist to ascertain the extent of the damage to your root canal. The next step will be to numb the area close to the affected tooth and give it a few minutes before moving to the next step.
- Removing the Pulp
Next, our dentist will place a rubber dam around the tooth to keep it dry and to prevent you from breathing or swallowing chemicals that will be used. Then, our dentist will use a drill to access the pulp via the crown. Once the pulp is in sight, our dentist will remove it and drain the pus.
- Cleaning and Filling the Root Canal
Our dentist will clean and enlarge the pulp chamber when the pulp is out to create room for the dental filling. It can take several hours to complete this part of the procedure. It might even take longer if the tooth our dentist is working on has more than one root.
After this part, our dentist will place a temporary dental filling to protect the tooth from debris and bacteria.
- Sealing and Fixing the Root Canal
Our dentist will remove the temporary filling at your next dental appointment. Then, the permanent tooth filling will be placed to prevent reinfection. However, it is likely that a tooth that has undergone a root canal and has a filling is more likely to break, so our dentist will suggest getting a dental crown.
- Adding a Crown
So, if you need a crown, our dentist will have to shape your teeth to ensure the crown fits. Our dentist will use a mould and create a crown that fits your teeth. The last step is to fix the tooth using dental cement.
Contact us today at Knoxville Smile Center if you need a root canal.
