Helpful Information About Root Canal Therapy
Suppose you or a family member have recently been told that root canal treatment is recommended. In that case, you may have questions about why the procedure is needed.
We hope the following general information provides you with the answers you’re looking for; however, we also invite you to make an appointment with our dentist at South Hadley Dental Group for one-on-one personalized care specific to your area of need.
Common Reasons for Root Canal Treatment
Since every patient is unique concerning their oral health, it’s impossible to list every occurrence when a dentist may recommend endodontic treatment such as root canal therapy. That said, four reasons encompass most recommendations for the procedure.
First, a dentist may recommend endodontic treatment when a tooth has suffered from extreme decay and is at risk (or currently experiencing) pulp inflammation. One of the interesting facts about patients experiencing pulp inflammation is that they may not experience any pain when they receive a recommendation for root canal therapy. However, if treatment is delayed or avoid entirely, the risk of pain associated with the infection increases with each passing day.
The three other reasons that a dentist may recommend treatment are:
- When repeated dental procedures have already been performed on the tooth.
- When a dental crown has become compromised.
- When there is a crack or other fault in a tooth.
These three scenarios create a risk of infection, leading to discomfort and the potential for tooth loss if left untreated.
The takeaway here is that some patients may be told that root canal treatment is recommended as a form of restorative dentistry, while others may require treatment as a form of preventive dentistry. The bottom line, in either case, is that treatment can help preserve a natural tooth rather than patients risking tooth loss and the cost of tooth replacement.
What to Expect During Your Root Canal
While we can only speak for the high standard of care from our dental office regarding treatment protocols, root canal therapy generally shares some commonalities during this procedure which typically requires two appointments.
Our dentist will carefully examine you and take dental x-rays to determine the state of the affected tooth. Afterward, Dr. Fields will administer local anesthesia and begin the process of cleaning out the diseased pulp. For patients concerned about anxiety and discomfort, sedation dentistry is available.
Our dentist will use advanced technology, tools, and equipment to provide safe, efficient, and effective treatment to access your dental pulp and root canals. This combination helps our dentist remove the inflamed pulp, seal the canals with dental filling material, and place a short-term or temporary crown to protect your newly cleaned and filled root canals. Our dentist will remove your temporary crown during your second appointment and place a permanent crown on the tooth once it’s been confirmed that all risk of infection has been successfully treated.
If you’re concerned about the timing of these procedures, our dental care team will provide you with a treatment plan ahead of your procedure so you can plan your time away from work or school with minimum interruption.
Also, if you’re concerned about the cost of the procedure, there are two things to keep in mind. First, it’s always more cost-effective to treat a tooth to restore its health than it is to have it extracted and replaced with a dental implant, dental bridge, or partial denture.
And if you do not have dental insurance, our dental care team can coordinate payment through CareCredit®.
What to Expect After Treatment
Keeping in mind that every patient will be unique in their procedure, there are some commonalities to keep in mind. Patients may experience some soreness and sensitivity after their root canal treatment, but this should resolve within days. Also, suppose you were experiencing pain from your infected tooth before your treatment. In that case, one of the most appreciated benefits of root canal therapy is the rapid elimination of pre-procedure discomfort.
If you’d like to learn more about what to expect before, during, and after you’ve received root canal therapy, we invite you to make an appointment with our dentist near you by completing our quick and convenient online booking form or calling us to schedule a consultation.