Dental pain can indicate numerous oral health concerns, with infection playing a starring role. When you have a tooth that’s been compromised by damage or decay and has pulp that is severely infected, a root canal treatment, or RCT, may be necessary. RCTs have developed a reputation for being a form of dental care akin to torture. This reputation is wholly undeserved, with modern root canals being a painless procedure that reduces suffering rather than causes it. Morning Star Dentistry is committed to providing effective, pain-free care to the community in and around Sonora, CA.
Find Meaningful Pain Relief With Root Canal Treatments
Root canal treatments provide an important tool for dentists when conditions become serious. RCTs are a tool that is used to preserve a tooth that likely would otherwise have to be extracted. Retaining your natural teeth is essential to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. Each tooth lost represents an increased risk of additional dental concerns down the road.
The need for a root canal is generally signaled by the presence of notable dental pain. A bump-like protrusion may form on the side of the gums near the pained tooth. This protrusion is filled with infected pulp. The pain produced by these conditions can be excruciating, potentially making day-to-day activities difficult or impossible to perform.
The first stage to addressing this infection is typically a round of antibiotics to address the issue itself. Once the infection has been reduced or eliminated, the root canal treatment will remove the necrotic (dead) tissue that is left behind and prepare the tooth for a crown. A typical root canal will involve the following steps:
- Diagnosis and Planning – During your initial visit, Dr. Liggett will review the procedure’s details and present a viable treatment approach. He will use digital imaging and a physical inspection to identify the concern facing your teeth.
- Local Anesthesia – Root canal treatments have been rendered painless through the use of local anesthesia. Within minutes of injection, the target site will be rendered numb, and a dental dam will be put in place to protect the work site.
- Clearing The Infection – Access to the interior of the tooth will be achieved using a dental drill or laser. Once exposed, the necrotic tissue within the tooth will be eliminated, and the interior will be cleaned and sterilized. The space will then be filled with a material known as gutta-percha.
- Restoring The Tooth – Using the in-house CEREC system, our team will produce a restoration in the form of a dental crown. This will be affixed in place immediately, restoring the tooth in a single visit.
Using a root canal treatment, saving an otherwise doomed tooth is possible. The existing infection will be removed, and the tooth will be stabilized. Further, it will be protected against becoming reinfected in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a candidate for a root canal?
You could be a candidate for a root canal if decay or damage has allowed bacteria to infect the pulp inside your tooth. A root canal could also be the right treatment for you if you prefer to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible instead of extracting both the healthy and diseased portions of your tooth. For more information about root canals and whether they are right for you, schedule a dental exam and consultation at your earliest convenience.
What should I expect during my root canal treatment?
If you decide to undergo a root canal, the first step in your procedure will involve a local anesthetic. Once your tooth root is numb, the diseased portion of your tooth pulp will be removed and potentially treated for bacterial infection. The tooth will then be sealed and filled before being restored with a crown.
What type of post-treatment care is required after a root canal?
It is normal for teeth to become inflamed after a root canal, potentially causing sensitivity for the first several days following treatment. However, normal brushing and flossing habits can be resumed immediately after treatment and restoration is complete.
Experience Pain-Free Root Canals in Sonora, CA
Morning Star Dentistry is looking forward to serving your oral health needs at our office in Sonora, CA. Together we’ll ensure that the overall health of your smile is preserved by taking steps to save your natural teeth. Call for your consultation with Dr. Justin Liggett today.
