Comfortable Root Canal and Extraction Treatments
Oral health is one of the things in life we can easily take for granted. Tooth infections and dental decay are incredibly painful and can upend your daily life if not treated immediately. Read below to learn more about these oral health saving treatments.
Root Canals
If you are experiencing long-lasting tooth pain or have a tooth that keeps getting darker and darker despite your brushing and whitening habits, you may need root canal therapy. Despite its reputation as a scary, painful procedure, root canals are actually tooth-saving and pain-relieving. Call our office today to learn more!
Where is the Root Canal?
The root canal isn’t a part of your teeth; it’s just the name of the treatment that helps with the pulp of your teeth. Sometimes, the pulp of your teeth will become inflamed and will need to be removed and cleaned. This process is called the root canal treatment.
Do I Need a Root Canal Treatment?
Tooth pain isn’t the only indicator of root canal infections or related problems. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may require treatment:
- Tooth darkening or discoloration
- Heightened teeth sensitivity, especially to particularly hot or cold foods
- Painful chewing
- Little bumps on your gums
- Swollen, overly sensitive gums near a particular tooth
Preparing For Root Canal Treatment
Dr. Alatorre will lay out all the information regarding how to prepare for your treatment. Be sure to check all these boxes to help the treatment go as smoothly as possible:
- Take All Prescribed Medications: You may get some anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics to take a few days before the appointment starts.
- Eat a Hearty Meal: Be sure to eat a solid meal before your appointment starts as you will need anesthesia while the appointment is completed.
- Avoid Damaging Foods: Foods like tobacco or sugar interrupt your body’s natural healing process. Limit your intake of these substances if possible.
Root Canal Treatment
During the visit, Dr. Alatorre will eliminate the infected pulp and clean out the area to help reduce the risk of it becoming infected again. This process may take a couple of visits depending on the gravity of the situation and the amount of dental work you can handle.
After the dental work is completed, you should notice some sensitivity for the first few days. These symptoms are expected and can be helped with basic pain medication.
Why Should I Get a Root Canal Treatment?
Treating your root canal infection won’t just eliminate pain; it may also improve the appearance of your tooth. Customarily, dental crowns are placed over the afflicted tooth once the infection has been cleared out.
If treatment is sought out quickly, your natural tooth may not need to be extracted at all! This will ensure your other teeth stay healthy as well and don’t shift about due to gaps.
If you think your root canal infection is at an emergency level, give us a call. We will help determine if it is an emergency, and get you an appointment as soon as possible.
How Does Root Canal Treatment Work?
Root canal treatment starts with the removal of the infected pulp, and then a deep cleaning. The tooth is then filled and sealed and if necessary, a crown is applied. The crown serves to protect the tooth from further infection, as well as restore it to its original size and true color.
Extractions
We get requests from some patients asking us to pull out their teeth. As a general rule, we try not to interfere with your natural teeth as much as we can. There are many different treatments we can do to treat the issue without causing permanent damage to your mouth.
Why Do I Need a Tooth Extraction?
Sometimes dental damage is too far gone to be able to repair the problem. In these situations, it’s easier and better for your oral health to extract the problem tooth and replace it with a brand new crown.
Here are some times when teeth may need to be pulled:
- Teeth are severely damaged: For example, hard-impact falls from accidents may require us to remove the tooth completely.
- Roots are broken beyond repair: The roots that hold your teeth together might have lost their full functionality. In that case, we may need to replace the tooth completely.
- Impacted teeth: Impacted teeth (such as wisdom teeth) may require us to extract them to avoid further injury to the rest of your mouth.
Don’t Hesitate to Get the Help You Need!
Tooth infections are painful and can be seriously bad for your health, but help is available at Alatorre Dental! Our staff knows exactly what to do to get you pain-free and back on your feet. Visit our office or give us a call to learn more.