Root Canal Therapy
Relieving Toothache Pain & Restoring Oral Health
If you’re experiencing severe toothache or dental sensitivity, you may be in need of root canal therapy. While many patients cringe when they hear the words “root canal,” this restorative treatment actually relieves discomfort and improves overall oral health and function. When you’re ready to find out more and start relieving pain immediately, call your experienced Oak Hills dentist, D. Michael Miller, DDS to schedule an appointment.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is an advanced restorative dentistry treatment used to repair teeth when decay or damage reaches the innermost layers of the tooth. Called the pulp, this interior layer of the tooth is where the nerve system is positioned. For this reason, the bacteria and plaque that cause tooth decay or shifting pieces of a broken tooth can irritate the nerve, leading to serious discomfort.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
If you’re in pain or experiencing lingering sensitivity to heat or cold, you may need a root canal. The only way to know for sure is to call our team right away for an urgent dental care appointment. We’ll examine your smile and capture x-rays to offer an accurate diagnosis. However, some of the warning signs that bring people to our office for root canal therapy include:
Sharp pain when biting down and/or a constant, throbbing ache typically centered on just one tooth.
Painful and lingering sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks.
Small sores or inflammation around the tooth that’s in pain you may also experience other signs of infection like fever.
Some people notice darkening of the affected tooth especially, near the gum line.
How Are Root Canals Performed?
A root canal can take a few visits to our office to complete. We’ll begin by numbing the area around your damaged tooth. Then, a small hole is drilled from the top of the tooth to the pulp layer. Next, we’ll carefully extract the damaged pulp and nerve tissue and thoroughly cleanse the inside of the tooth to avoid further decay or damage. Next, the tooth is refilled with a biocompatible substance. The access hole is carefully resealed. Finally, a dental crown is usually placed in order to strengthen the root canal-treated tooth.
Do Root Canals Hurt?
Actually, no. The bad reputation root canals have is actually unfair. The root canal itself will significantly reduce the pain that often indicates a need for this procedure. During your root canal, we will make sure to provide adequate local anesthesia to keep the area around your tooth completely numb. We can also offer sedation dentistry if you’re especially fearful or the root canal procedure is likely to be lengthy. After treatment, we will walk you through post-operative care instructions to ensure your comfort, but most people report little to no pain following treatment and a significant reduction in discomfort immediately following their procedure.