Root Canal Treatment in Columbia, MD
Veneers on front upper teeth
Many patients are uneasy about getting a root canal. There’s a lot of confusion about the procedure, so let’s go over some of the questions we get about root canals.
Why Do People Get Root Canals?
It’s understandable to ask that question – after all, root canals seem super painful. If a patient has severe tooth decay, a badly damaged, tooth, or pulpitis, we perform a root canal. This allows us to preserve it instead of removing it, preventing toothache in the long-term.
What Can I Expect?
A root canal treatment can take up to two visits to complete. But although the procedure sounds painful, patients tend to feel very little of it – our dentists use local anesthesia so you can’t feel it. After a root canal, you shouldn’t feel any toothache that affected your teeth before.
Prior to the treatment, your dentist:
- Takes x-rays of your teeth and nearby bones
- Uses local anesthesia around the tooth to numb it
- Place a thin layer of latex rubber over the affected tooth, so it stays dry and clean – it also prevents bacteria and microorganisms in the mouth from affecting it
During the procedure, your dentist:
- Makes an opening at the top of the infected tooth
- Removes its nerve from inside the tooth and a part of it called the ‘root canal.’
- Cleans inside the tooth’s root canal using germ-killing medicine
- Fills the tooth’s root canal with a sealing material to protect them from further infection
- Puts a temporary filling on your tooth to protect it until you get a crown or permanent filling
After the procedure:
- You may feel some sensitivity around the tooth for a couple of days. Your dentist can prescribe some pain-relieving medicine to reduce discomfort.
- If the infection spreads, your dentist will prescribe antibiotics – make sure to use them as told, but consult with them if you’re having trouble.
How Long Does a Root Canal Last?
If you take care of the restored tooth, it can last many years. In this case, care means brushing regularly with fluoride toothpaste, flossing between teeth, and visiting your dentist every six months.
Are you looking for a reliable dentist near you for a root canal procedure? Contact our Columbia dentist for more information about root canals and booking an appointment.
FAQs
In some cases, yes. If the tooth can still be restored, root canal treatment may be used to remove infected or damaged pulp, clean and seal the canals, and preserve the natural tooth. A crown or another restoration may then be needed to keep the tooth protected and restore its function. An examination can determine whether the tooth is suitable for root canal treatment.
Yes. A decrease in pain does not necessarily mean that the underlying problem has healed. An infected or damaged tooth may sometimes have few or no symptoms, so an examination and appropriate testing are important when symptoms have occurred.
Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold may occur when the tissue inside the tooth has become inflamed or infected. Other problems can cause sensitivity as well, so your dentist may use an examination, X-rays, and other diagnostic tests to determine whether root canal treatment is appropriate.
Some tenderness when biting can occur for a few days after root canal treatment as the tissues around the tooth recover. However, pain that becomes worse, remains severe, or does not gradually improve should be reported to your dentist for evaluation.
An untreated infection inside a tooth can worsen and potentially spread to surrounding tissues. When appropriate, root canal treatment can remove infected or damaged pulp, clean and seal the inside of the tooth, and help preserve the natural tooth. Your dentist can determine the appropriate treatment based on the condition of the tooth.
Our goal is to get the perfect smile option in Columbia, MD and we are proudly accepting new patients across the following areas: