Relieving Your Tooth Pain
Being in pain can impact your daily life, but we can help you by performing a root canal treatment. Root canal therapy has a reputation for being painful, but the truth is that the procedure is usually not painful with advanced technology and sedation.
How Decay Affects Your Teeth
When you have a cavity, the layers of your tooth are eroded by harmful bacteria in your mouth. If you let this cavity progress without treatment, the infection can make its way into the innermost part of your tooth.
This area, called the pulp chamber, houses important and sensitive nerves that can become extremely painful when infected. Eventually, the entire tooth is threatened and the infection can spread to your face and neck.
Symptoms of a Severe Infection
If you experience the following symptoms, you may need root canal therapy to save your tooth:
- Severe toothache that worsens with pressure
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Tooth discoloration
- Swollen gums
Without root canal therapy, you may need to have a tooth extracted or threaten the health of your entire body. Call us at (734) 261-6060 to talk to us about your symptoms and possible treatment options.
The Root Canal Procedure
Your dentist will first take x-rays of your mouth before your procedure to determine the extent of your infection.
Your dentist will provide a local anesthetic so the area around your tooth will be numb. You won’t feel very much of the procedure due to this, but if you’re anxious or have sensitive teeth, we can provide a sedative to help.
Then, a small hole will be drilled through your tooth to the center. Through this hole, the infected inner parts of your tooth will be removed until all of the infection is cleared.
Tooth Extractions
In the event that your infection is too severe to save your natural tooth, your dentist will recommend a tooth extraction. This can save your other teeth as well as your bodily health. After your tooth is removed, we can provide natural-looking tooth replacement options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contrary to popular belief, root canal therapy isn’t painful for most people. It often feels similar to getting a cavity filled due to advanced technology and anesthesia. We can also provide sedation if you’re anxious about your procedure.
Some pain after your root canal therapy is to be expected. But if you’re in severe pain, contact us by calling (734) 261-6060 so we can help you.
Sometimes an infection can be difficult to completely clear out. If a piece of small but infected tissue is left behind, the infection can resurface. In this case, another root canal procedure will be performed.
A hot tooth is a tooth that’s severely infected and very painful, but also doesn’t respond to a local anesthetic. These teeth are very difficult to treat.
A tooth dies when it no longer receives blood flow. This can cause it to become discolored and appear yellow, gray, or black. You may also feel pain as your tooth dies and experience bad breath as well as a bad taste in your mouth.
If you experience a headache after root canal therapy, some over-the-counter painkillers can help. Any pain should subside after a couple of days.
Most root canal procedures take about 90 minutes, but it’s dependent on the location of your tooth, your root structure, and other factors.