Are you currently suffering from a toothache that makes it hard to go about your daily life? Is it impossible to chew, talk, or even smile without pain shooting through your mouth? Fortunately, there is a way for our Naples dentists to put a stop to your toothache fast – root canal therapy. While root canals have a daunting, painful reputation, this procedure actually relieves your dental discomfort by targeting the root of your tooth pain. It also allows us to save your natural tooth from needing to be extracted. If you’re ready for a cure for your severe toothache, give us a call!
A root canal is a procedure wherein one of our dentists will access the decayed or infected center of your tooth and remove the damaged portion. First, we’ll be sure to numb you up with plenty of local anesthetic and possibly even nitrous oxide sedation to ensure you don’t feel a thing during the procedure. Then, we’ll clean out the inside of the tooth, removing the infection. Next, the tooth is sealed up with a gutta-percha material to seal out bacteria and prevent re-infection down the road. Finally, the tooth is topped with a temporary filling or crown. In a few weeks, after your tooth has completely healed, you’ll return to our Naples office for a more permanent restoration.
Root canal therapy is designed to heal an extremely damaged tooth and keep it from requiring an extraction. At Galleria Dentistry, we want to save your natural teeth as much as possible, so we recommend root canal therapy, also called endodontic treatment, when the tooth is too damaged for a filling or crown alone to restore it.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to contact us about whether you need a root canal:
While root canals have a bit of a scary reputation, there is no need to be nervous about endodontic treatment. This is because the procedure itself shouldn’t hurt at all, thanks to advancements in modern dental technology. In fact, the reason root canals are associated with pain is most likely due to the severe toothache that usually necessitates them. However, root canals themselves are not painful. It should be noted that you may experience some soreness after the procedure, but this should fade after a few days. If it doesn’t, then give us a call.
You will probably feel some tenderness around the root canal site for a few days after your treatment, but again, these symptoms should be temporary. They can be easily managed by either taking over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or applying a cold compress to your cheek.
It might also help to avoid chewing crunchy or hard foods on that side of your mouth for a week or so, as it may be painful. We highly recommend sticking to a soft food diet for the first few days.
Lastly, it’s imperative that you take care of your treated tooth with proper oral hygiene. Gently brush and floss the tooth daily. Also, be sure to visit your Naples dentist for a checkup and teeth cleaning every six months. Following these steps can help ensure that your tooth treated with root canal therapy lasts a lifetime!
If you’ll be receiving nitrous oxide sedation and are prone to nausea, we might recommend avoiding having anything to eat a few hours before your appointment. It’s important to stay hydrated, though, and getting plenty of sleep can help your immune system work more efficiently.
If you’re not receiving nitrous oxide, then we actually recommend eating a filling meal an hour or two before your root canal. It will be a bit difficult to chew while your mouth is still numb, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’ll be satisfied until the effects of the anesthetic wear off.
Please do not drink alcohol or use tobacco products within 24 hours of your appointment. These substances can interact negatively with the anesthetic.
In the vast majority of cases, root canals last for several years or even an entire lifetime.
The key is to reduce your risk of reinfection as much as possible. We recommend:
We mentioned that a root canal can prevent you from needing a tooth extraction, but you might be wondering why you would have to choose between the two!
Unlike other parts of your body, your teeth can’t fight off infections or repair themselves. Dental problems don’t go away on their own, so an infection will only get worse and spread with time. If we don’t remove the dangerous bacteria from your pulp, it will cause more damage and put your other pearly whites at risk. In severe cases, a dental infection can travel to other areas, such as your brain.
So, basically, waiting too long to get a root canal can seriously harm your oral health, to the point where we would have to extract your tooth in order to save the rest of your smile.
Rest assured, rumors about root canals being “unsafe” or increasing your risk of various medical conditions are false. These myths stemmed from a study that was conducted poorly and has since been debunked by better quality research.
While there is a small risk of reinfection, it’s important to note that this risk isn’t higher than other medical procedures. In fact, root canals have a success rate of 95%, meaning that 95% of the time, patients do not experience complications.
Think of it this way: if there’s harmful bacteria or infected tissue inside of your tooth, you don’t really want to leave it there. Not removing decayed material from your body almost guarantees you’ll develop serious health problems!
