Sometimes when bacteria invade the pulp of your tooth, it may cause an infection, resulting in severe toothache. In such cases, you may need root canal therapy to save your tooth and alleviate your symptoms. If you hope to salvage your tooth, Dr. Bram may recommend root canals Lisle instead of tooth extraction.
The procedure of getting a root canal
When you arrive at Doc Bram, your provider will guide you to the treatment room, help you get comfortable in a chair, and give you a bib to protect your clothes from stains. During the procedure, Dr. Bram will apply numbing medication to the treatment and wait for it to kick in. Afterward, he will inject a local anesthetic into your gums. You may experience a burning sensation or sharp pain that disappears quickly. Your provider will then create a small hole in the top of your tooth to expose the infected pulp. They will then remove the pulp and meticulously clean all the canals in your tooth. Afterward, your dentist will coat the tooth with topical antibiotics to prevent reinfection. They will then fill and seal your tooth using a sealer paste and gutta-percha. The team will end the procedure by temporarily filling the small hole at the top of your tooth to prevent your saliva from damaging the canals.
What to expect after the procedure
You may experience soreness in your tooth and gums after the numbing medication wears off. Your provider may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate the side effects. However, if the pain worsens or persists for over a week, inform your dentist. You can embark on your daily activities the day after your treatment. However, you should avoid chewing with the treated tooth until you get a crown or permanent filling. After a few days, you will return to your dentist’s office to ensure the infection is gone and replace the temporary filling with a permanent filling. If you prefer a permanent crown, your provider can take digital impressions of your teeth and send them to the lab for crown customization. The upside of a crown is that it blends in with your natural teeth and improves the damaged tooth’s appearance. Getting used to your filling or crown may take a while, but that should not alarm you. After treatment, your provider may advise you to practice good oral hygiene to prevent reinfection or damage.
Risks associated with root canal
Your doctor may recommend a root canal if there is hope of saving your natural tooth. However, the damage or infection may be too severe, or your enamel may be too fragile to withstand the treatment, resulting in tooth loss. Additionally, you may develop an abscess at the root of the treated tooth if your provider fails to remove all of the infected materials or if the antibiotics don’t work as expected. If you have doubts about a root canal, you can talk to your dentist about tooth extraction and implant, bridge, or denture placement.
If you have a damaged tooth, call Dr. Bram or book an appointment online for a root canal procedure.
