Root Canals

If you are facing the challenges of decayed and infected teeth, you may need to consider getting a root canal. It is a dental treatment that can repair the damaged tooth and prevent it from further vulnerability. During the root canal procedure, your dentist works on removing the pulp and nerve of the affected tooth to seal the infected part. Keep in mind, the infection in tissues around the damaged tooth will worsen without a treatment, which will result in abscesses.

A pulp resides beneath dentin and enamel; it is a soft tissue that is susceptible to damage and can easily be infected. It contains connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels, which help encourage your tooth growth and development. When it becomes inflamed, infected, and irritated due to a deep cavity, a patient may need to undergo repeated dental procedures.

Why Does Tooth Pulp Need to Be Removed?

It is no secret that a damaged pulp or nerve tissue can cause harm to your teeth since the bacteria begin to multiply within the affected part. Furthermore, the decayed debris and bacteria together can lead to infection or a common dental condition, abscessed tooth. Note that, an abscess is a layer that contains pus and forms in your tooth root. Besides it, if your dental condition does not receive medical attention, it can cause:

  • Bone loss around the root of your teeth
  • Swelling in the mouth; in severe cases, it can spread to your head, neck, and face

What are the Signs that Indicate You Need a Root Canal?

Root canal is a common treatment for deep cavity or cracked tooth resulting from an injury.  Patients with dental problems usually require a root canal when they experience tooth sensitivity, especially cold and hot sensations in the mouth. However, here are some most common symptoms that indicate you may need a root canal:

  • Darkening of gums or deep decay
  • Tender or swollen gums
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Pimples on gums
  • Severe pain during biting or chewing

How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?

Depending on the complexity of your tooth condition, the cost varies from person to person. However, it is important to bear in mind that molars are difficult to treat, due to which it requires more fees than regular dental treatments.

Nevertheless, endodontic treatment, including root canal, is less expensive than a tooth extraction, since it requires replacements of the extracted tooth with a bridge or implant. Therefore, these dental procedures tend to cost more than the other endodontic treatments.

Does a Root Canal Hurt?

If you are experiencing a tooth infection or decay, you probably think to get a root canal. However, before deciding for it, you are likely worrying about the procedure; whether it is painless or painful. You must not forget here that your dental surgeon will use anesthesia to not cause any pain to you during the procedure.

Therefore, a root canal is not more painful than other dental procedures like wisdom tooth removal or filling. Nevertheless, a root canal may cause numbness or sore after the procedure. Furthermore, it can cause discomfort in the initial days.

The Bottom Line

If you have been encountering any discomfort in your decayed tooth, you may need to consider visiting a dentist for a root canal. As mentioned before, a root canal will remove the infected pulp and seal your tooth area to prevent the infection spread further. However, this procedure is much similar to a routine filling and is relatively painless.

If you want to have a seamless root canal experience, schedule your appointment with Ideal Smiles Dental in Staten Island, NY today:

IDEAL SMILES DENTAL
2955 Veterans Rd. W, Suite 2G
Staten Island, NY 10309

718-535-1196

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