Menu
The innermost core of your tooth (a.k.a. the dental pulp) consists of blood vessels responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tooth. Deep cavities and dental trauma can damage the pulp, causing inflammation, infection, and sometimes a tooth abscess. In these cases, a regular dental filling usually isn’t enough to restore the tooth, and we often recommend root canals.
Root canal treatment involves removing the affected pulp, cleaning the root canal, and sealing the tooth.
A root canal is an extremely common, straightforward, and effective dental procedure. When done in time, it can often help save a natural tooth and prevent the need for a dental implant.
You may need a root canal if:
Root canals require quick action to resolve the infection and save the tooth. To find out whether you need a root canal, schedule an appointment at Boca Dental as soon as possible.
An endodontist, a special dentist for root canal procedures, will perform the treatment. During the procedure, the dentist will remove the infected pulp and thoroughly clean and disinfect the pulp chamber. After that, the dentist will fill up the cavity with a biocompatible material and seal the tooth.
Root canals typically involve local anesthesia and sometimes nitrous oxide to keep the patient comfortable. An endodontist will complete a typical root canal procedure in a single session that lasts under an hour. However, root canals may take longer in teeth with multiple canals, like molars.
A root canal manages to save a damaged tooth in about 90% of cases. If a complication occurs or your dentist estimates that the root canal has a poor chance of success, there may be no choice but to extract the tooth.
The cost of root canals varies, but a typical root canal is much more affordable than the alternatives, like a dental implant.
After a root canal treatment, most patients can drive home on their own and resume their usual routine. You may experience temporary pain and discomfort as the numbing agent wears off.
In the initial days after your root canal procedure, you should:
Within a few weeks of the root canal therapy, you’ll come in for another appointment to have your permanent restoration (like an onlay or a crown) placed, allowing you to use your tooth normally again.
While root canals are often the only way to rescue a severely damaged tooth, they can compromise tooth structure. A tooth that underwent a root canal treatment will always be more susceptible to infection, fractures, and other types of damage.
To keep your teeth in the best possible shape after a root canal, you should:
Are you suffering from sharp, severe tooth pain? Have you noticed tenderness, swelling, and other signs of infection around the affected area? Patients with these symptoms often require quick root canals to save an infected tooth.
Contact us online or call (561) 872-3045 to schedule an emergency appointment at Boca Dental.
