Facing a severely damaged or infected tooth can be a daunting problem, often resulting in intense pain and discomfort. The fear escalates when you’re plagued by common misconceptions about root canal treatments — “They’re painful, they’re complicated,” you might think.
But at Robison Family Dental, we’re here to not only soothe your dental pain but also alleviate your worries. Root canal treatment is a solution that can save your natural tooth, prevent the spread of infection, and bring you relief.
Our dedicated team ensures that the procedure is comfortable, safe, and remarkably straightforward. By eliminating the infected pulp, sealing off the tooth, and effectively restoring it, we can put you back on the path of dental health.
Does a Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
Toot canal therapy feels the same as any other common dental procedure. We use a local anesthetic to make sure you stay totally comfortable. Over the years, root canals have been improved to be quicker and pain-free. Dr. Robison will also give you several tips to help you recover quickly at home and manage any discomfort.
Also, if you’ve experienced dental sensitivity or anxiety in the past, let us know! We may have options that will make you more comfortable during your procedure!
How Root Canal Treatments Work
To understand what root canal therapy does for you, imagine first that you have a bad toothache. Nothing is working. What is going on inside your tooth? Here are some basic terms to understand going into a root canal treatment:
- Root Canal: This is all the tubes and chambers inside the root of the tooth, holding nerves and tissues.
- Pulp: The nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues inside the root canal.
- Root Canal Infection: The pulp has been invaded by bacteria that have multiplied, creating acid that is attacking the nerves and tooth structure.
- Root Canal Therapy: The service in which a dentist cleans the bacteria out of the root canal, stopping the infection.
When the pulp is infected, it can become inflamed, or swollen, in response. This presses on the nerves, causing a toothache in some cases.
Do You Need Root Canal Therapy?
How do you know if you need a root canal treatment? Only an exam will give you a diagnosis, but here are a few signs that you might have an infection in your root canal:
- Fever.
- Swelling of facial tissues.
- Sudden sensitivity to cold or hot.
- A feeling of pressure in a certain tooth.
- A strange taste in your mouth.
- Swollen or red gums.
- Bite sensitivity.
Has one of your teeth recently been chipped or cracked in an accident? That’s one of the ways that bacteria can get into the pulp. A severe cavity may also provide bacteria access to the pulp of your tooth.
If you’re in pain or experiencing one or more of the symptoms above, call Dr. Robison immediately. It’s important to catch an infection quickly in order to save your tooth structure.
What to Expect During a Root Canal Treatment
Our goals during root canal therapy include diagnosing the issue, saving your tooth, and preventing re-infection. Here are the general steps:
- Diagnosis: Using dental X-rays, we scan inside your teeth to find the source of the issue.
- Consultation: Dr. Robison explains our findings and your treatment options.
- Surgery Prep: We administer a local anesthetic.
- Root Canal Cleaning: Your dentist accesses the root canal and uses therapeutic tools to remove the infected pulp.
- Pulp Replacement: Dr. Robison packs the root canal with a sterile material and closes the tooth access point.
- Tooth Protection: We cover your tooth either with a custom filling or a tooth crown, which covers the top and sides of the tooth.
During this process, we use magnification lenses and illumination to see minute details of the inside of your tooth, increasing our ability to clean the interior.
Save Your Tooth With Root Canal Therapy in West Jordan, UT
With a root canal treatment, we can save your tooth from the damage an infection causes. Sometimes, we can even save a tooth that would otherwise be irreparable.
If you’re in pain or you suspect you have a root canal infection,contact Dr. Robison immediately and set up an appointment to get a diagnosis.