Root Canal Therapy – DeSoto, TX
We Can Save Your Damaged Tooth!
When people hear the phrase “root canal therapy,” they tend to tense up at first. But many people don’t realize that root canals are not designed to cause discomfort or make your life more difficult. The fact is root canal therapy takes you out of pain, instead of causing it. This common misconception prevents many people from getting the treatment they need. If your tooth is in pain, Dr. Suzanne Najjar can safely and effectively remove decay and restore your tooth’s functions to the fullest. Call our dental office to schedule an appointment for root canal therapy in DeSoto today!
Why Choose Amaze Dental for Root Canal Therapy?
- Nitrous Oxide and Oral Conscious Sedation Available
- Soft Tissue Laser for Greater Ease and Comfort
- Computer-Assisted Local Anesthesia Available via The Wand™
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a treatment during which the center portion of the tooth, known as the pulp, is extracted. It’s a necessary procedure to save a severely damaged tooth from needing to be extracted. Although root canal therapy is one of the most common restorative dental procedures, it’s usually used as a last resort to save a tooth.
More often than not, your tooth will need to be fitted with a dental crown after your root canal. A crown is a custom-made “cap” that is bonded to a tooth to protect it from future damage. Since your tooth will be vulnerable after root canal therapy, it never hurts to add a little extra protection.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
One of the most common signs that you need a root canal is moderate to severe discomfort in your tooth. However, that’s not the only symptom to keep in mind. Dr. Najjar, your dentist in DeSoto, will confirm if a root canal is necessary during your detailed exam, but if you experience any of the following symptoms, get to our dental office as soon as possible:
- Facial swelling
- Pimple-like bumps on gum tissue
- Darkening of the tooth (gray, brown or black in color)
- Fever
- Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
What Can I Expect During a Root Canal?
To begin your procedure, we numb your mouth with a powerful local anesthetic, and possibly even sedation, to ensure your comfort. We then create a small hole in your tooth, through which we extract the damaged pulp along with the nerve. After we clean the inside of the tooth, we replace the inner portions with a synthetic material called gutta-percha. Once the tooth is sealed back up, we take an impression, which we then use to design your dental crown. Until it’s ready, we can place a temporary crown to protect your tooth in the meantime.
What Are the Benefits of Root Canal Therapy?
Are you in severe dental pain? Schedule an appointment with us so we can determine whether root canal therapy is just the treatment your smile needs.
Root Canal FAQs
If you’ve never received root canal therapy before or you’re helping a family member better understand the procedure, you probably have multiple questions you’d like to address beforehand. At Amaze Dental, we always take the time to go over the steps of treatment so you know exactly what to expect, but we also encourage you to look over our frequently asked questions for root canal therapy below. Your answer just might be there! If not, feel free to call us directly.
Is root canal therapy safe?
Not only is root canal therapy a perfectly safe treatment to complete, but it’s performed by dentists and endodontists millions of times every single year. It’s the most effective treatment for resolving severe dental infections that put teeth at risk of needing an extraction. As long as you take proper care of the treated tooth going forward, your tooth should last for many years without concern.
What should I expect after treatment?
Just like with any significant dental treatment, you can expect your tooth to feel a little sensitive for the next few days. This feeling should go away after a day or so and can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. However, you will need to avoid chewing tough foods on that side of your mouth until the permanent restoration is placed. At your follow-up appointment, we’ll discuss how to take care of your treated tooth, ensure the infection is gone, and confirm the area is healing properly.
How should I take care of my tooth moving forward?
The best way to reduce your risk of your treated tooth from becoming damaged further is to practice consistent at-home oral care. This includes brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste as well as flossing at least once a day to remove plaque from the sides of teeth. It’s recommended that you visit our office once every six months so we can examine not just the condition of your oral health, but the tooth that received root canal therapy.
How long does root canal therapy take?
In most cases, root canal therapy should only take about an hour to complete. Alternatively, situations where multiple root canals need to be completed can increase the length of treatment to as long as two hours. However, our office will take as much time as we need to ensure all of the damaged portions of the pulp are removed so the infection does not come back.
Will root canal therapy weaken my tooth?
While it is true that removing inner sections of the tooth will weaken its overall structure, we take the necessary steps to ensure it remains durable and lasting for years to come. This includes placing a dedicated restoration on top of the treated tooth. The alternative is your tooth continues to break down and require extraction anyway, which is why it’s best to complete a treatment that works to save the root portion and reinforce the crown, rather than take out the tooth entirely.