subject: Root Canal Therapy Can Save Your Infected Tooth From Extraction [print this page] . Despite the stigma associated with root canals that they are extremely painful, in reality a root canal procedure causes about the same amount of pain as getting a filling put in. If you are experiencing tooth pain, do not hesitate to visit your Avondale, AZ dentist and see if you are in need of a root canal procedure.
How A Root Canal Procedure Is Performed
The first thing you need to do if you are experiencing any pain in your tooth is to visit your dentist to see what the problem may be and what you can do to remedy it. Once your dentist has decided that a root canal procedure is the best option for you, he or she will begin by taking an X-ray of your tooth to examine the extent of the infection. After this, he or she will anesthetize the tooth and drill a small access hole into the center of the tooth. Your dentist will then use root canal files to clear out the infected material on the inside of your tooth. Water and a special chemical will also be used to flush out any remaining material. After this is completed, your dentist will need to seal the inside of the tooth to make sure that no infection occurs there in the future. He or she will use a sealer paste and a rubber compound to fill in the center of the tooth where your pulp used to be.
After sealing the tooth, your dentist will then use a filling to close up the access hole that was drilled at the beginning of the procedure. After this, the last step of the procedure usually requires your dentist to install some sort of restoration on top of your tooth. This is because the combination of excessive decay and the root canal procedure itself can make the tooth very unstable. In order for it to remain strong and able to support itself, your dentist will usually take an impression and install a dental crown on top of the tooth to stabilize the tooth and make sure it will not crack apart in the future. After the crown is installed, the procedure will be complete and you will be free to start fully enjoying your restored smile.
What To Expect After Your Root Canal Procedure
After your root canal procedure is over, you will probably experience some mild pain. This is common and you can treat it by taking an over the counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or Tylenol. On the day of your treatment, it is recommended that you rest at home the remainder of the day. Generally you will be able to return to work or school the next day.
To learn more about root canal procedures or to schedule an appointment, talk to your Dubuque dentist today.
