Root Canal Therapy
There is a common fear among many patients when they hear they might need a root canal. The reality is that root canal treatment is a very common procedure that can make a world of difference for an infected tooth. In fact, when done properly, a root canal can actually save the health of your entire mouth—including teeth and their supporting structures.
You can trust that we’ll provide the best possible root canal care we can here at Carroll Dental. Here, your comfort is our number one priority! We believe in providing patients with quality care that will preserve and enhance your smile for years to come.
With the help of root canal therapy, we’ve been able to enhance the oral health for many of our patients, and we will continue to do so for many in the future.
What Is a Root Canal?
Root canals can refer to two different things: both the physical structure of a tooth and a procedure dealing with that same physical structure. Every tooth has canals that extend down through the tooth root into the nerve tissue of your mouth; this is the structure known as the “root canal.” They provide your teeth with nutrition from the bloodstream.
Root canal therapy, on the other hand, is a treatment process involving the infected pulp of a tooth, which blocks or harms the root canal. The end result of a root canal treatment is removal of unhealthy tooth pulp and preservation of the outer tooth structure that remains.
How Do You Know If You Need a Root Canal?
There are several signs and symptoms you can watch out for that could indicate you might need a root canal. Common root canal symptoms include:
- Severe pain while chewing or biting.
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold.
- Tender, swollen gums.
- Pimples on the gums.
- Chipped or cracked teeth.
- Deep decay or darkening of the gums.
These symptoms can be caused by a number of things, but your best treatment for all of them is generally a root canal procedure.
Root Canal Causes
Root canals are most often caused by bacterial buildup on your tooth that leads to an infection deep within the tooth. This decay eats away the healthy pulp inside your tooth and can threaten the health of your surrounding teeth as well.
Dental trauma like cracking or breaking of teeth can also need a root canal treatment to fully seal the tooth and protect it from further damage. This is because the nerve and pulp of the tooth will be exposed and can cause a great deal of pain through that exposure.
Root Canal Treatment
During a root canal procedure, we will prepare your tooth with numbing agents. Then your dentist will clean the infected area out carefully and thoroughly. We will take out the infected pulp and clear out the nerve areas as well.
Once all the decaying areas are removed, the canals and central chamber of your tooth will be filled with a strong substance that will allow you to continue using your tooth as before.
If necessary, a dental crown will be placed over the top of your tooth to further strengthen and protect it.
After Root Canal Treatment
Following a root canal treatment, you’ll need to take the proper steps for recovery. Root canal recovery time usually takes the average patient just a few days. You’ll be provided with a prescription for pain medication if necessary and will be advised to practice good oral hygiene for the next few days.
How Long Does a Root Canal Last?
Depending on the severity of the damage, a root canal procedure can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours, but its effects benefit your smile for much longer!
The health benefits of a root canal can last as long as 8–10 years after the procedure is performed. Having a crown placed can make it last even longer.
How Much Is a Root Canal?
The specific cost of your root canal will depend on the severity of your tooth infection or damage, how much anesthesia or sedation is needed during your treatment, and whether or not a crown will need to be placed afterward.
It can be hard to estimate these costs without knowing your individual case, so we invite you to come visit us for a consultation if you’re experiencing any tooth pain.
Find a Great Root Canal Dentist in Kentucky at Carroll Dental Care
Get in touch with us today with any questions about root canal treatment or to schedule a consultation. A seriously infected or damaged tooth is a painful thing you shouldn’t have to live with. We’ll craft a treatment plan to fix the situation and preserve your tooth through root canal therapy!