Root Canal Therapy For Relief and Infection

Baer Dental - Where we treat people, not teeth.

Root Canal Therapy in Lone Tree, CO

When most people hear the words “root canal” they generally think pain. It is generally perceived as a painful dental procedure that must be avoided at all costs. In reality, living with infected root pulp - the nerve tissue inside a tooth- is way more painful. Untreated root canals can not only damage the tooth, but damage the bone surrounding the tooth. Eventually, if the infection is not taken care of, the tooth may need to be extracted.

It is important to understand what a root canal is, and why it may be necessary for your oral health and that can help alleviate some of the fear associated with this dental procedure.

Contact Baer Dental Designs Today To Start Your Root Canal Consultation

(303) 557-6453

What is a Root Canal?

When the pulp - nerve tissue inside a tooth- has become damaged, infected or inflamed, it needs to be cleaned out or removed from inside the root(s) of the tooth. This procedure involves clearing away all of the damaged/diseased nerve tissue inside the root as well as removal of the infection and the inside is filled with a materal to fill this void and this treatment is called “root canal therapy,” or a “root canal.”

Why Root Canal Therapy?

There isn’t just one reason why a root canal may be needed. Some of the reasons for root canal therapy include:

Tooth Trauma
Infection
Abscess
Severe Tooth Decay
A Dead Nerve
Tooth Fracture

These various issues can lead to infection and inflammation that can continue to develop until the tooth is completely dead. It is important to seek treatment as soon as the pain begins to improve the chances that a root canal can save the tooth. Waiting too long may mean that the tooth cannot be saved and an extraction would be necessary.

Call Baer Dental Designs Today at (303) 557-6453

Signs a Root Canal is Needed

In some situations a root canal can be avoided with proper care. However, if you don’t take proper care of your teeth, your teeth suffer trauma, or you have cracks in your teeth that allow bacteria to attack the nerve tissue of the tooth- then a root canal may be unavoidable. To better understand whether or not you have an infected or inflamed root, you’ll want to consider these
different signs:

Extreme tooth ache.
Pain and discomfort while trying to chew.
Pain when pressure is applied to the tooth.
Pain while biting or chewing.
A change in the color of the tooth (which is often a greying of the tooth).
Sensitivity or pain when exposed to heat or cold.
The swelling of nearby gums.

These symptoms are often very easy to notice, and will likely get worse as you allow the issue to further develop. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist for as soon as you can. Don’t wait for your next checkup.

The Root Canal Process

The actual process of getting a root canal starts with a visit to the dentist for a consultation to determine the correct tooth needing treatment. While your dentist may notice damage and decay during a checkup, it’s likely that you’ll be aware that something is wrong before then. Once your dentist has taken a look at the area and decided that the problem is an infected/inflamed root, they will begin the root canal therapy process.

Your dentist will provide you with anesthesia - numbing - to ensure that you feel limited to no pain during the procedure. While this will generally just be local anesthesia, they may also provide nitrous oxide also known as laughing gas to ensure that you are relaxed and comfortable. From there, your dentist will create an opening in the crown of the tooth to better access the pulp chamber. Your dentist will then use fluid to disinfect and clean out the area—removing any bacteria. The next step is removing the pulp, then cleaning and shaping the root canals. After this, the root canals are filled and sealed.

Your dentist may decide to prescribe you with antibiotics after the procedure to help treat the infection. You’ll also be given aftercare instructions to ensure the proper healing of the tooth.

How to Avoid a Root Canal

A root canal may become necessary to save a healthy tooth - sometimes healthy teeth die for unexplained reasons. A situation in which a tooth nerve infection is unavoidable is extremely rare. Thee best way to avoid a root canal is to make routine visits to the dentist that takes the time to evaluate your teeth and the fillings and crowns present in your mouth.

Still, there are rare situations in which a tooth is damaged and the nerve tissue is damaged, leading to infection. To avoid any infection and to save a damaged tooth, make sure to set an appointment with a dentist as soon as a tooth is damaged or injured. This may mean the difference between your dentist needing to repair the tooth or extract it entirely!

It’s also important to pay attention to any abnormalities with your teeth and gums. If you notice swelling of the gums in an area, there may be infection of either the gums or a tooth. You’ll also want to look out for pain and/or pressure in a tooth. If you are experiencing any issues with a tooth or multiple teeth, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Don’t wait until
your next checkup.

Root canal therapy does not have to be painful and scary - most of the problems come about after people have waited until the tooth is extremely painful to get treatment. If your tooth pulp is infected, schedule a time to have root canal therapy performed to save and restore your tooth.