Why You Shouldn’t Fear Root Canals
December 14, 2021 8:06 pm |Root canal therapy has a bad reputation for being exceedingly long and painful. While we’re not quite sure how the rumors got started, we wanted to take a moment to explain why the negative things you’ve heard about root canal therapy are complete myths. In this blog post, we’ll walk through what happens during this common procedure at Mauka Family Dental and reasons why you should consider getting root canal therapy.
When Would I Need a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is usually required when you have an abscess or tooth root infection stemming from an untreated cavity due to inconsistent oral hygiene or trauma. During root canal therapy, your dentist will remove and replace the infected tissue from your tooth root to preserve the health of your tooth.
Signs You Need Root Canal Therapy
If you are experiencing the following, you may be due for root canal therapy:
- Extreme pain, particularly when you bite down
- Sensitivity to heat and cold
- Tooth discoloration
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Bad breath or bad taste in mouth
- Chipped or cracked tooth
- Wiggly sensation around the tooth
- Abscess near gumline
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is actually a pretty simple procedure! First, Dr. Kim will take x-rays of your mouth to understand the extent of the damage to your tooth and assess the spread of the infection.
Next, he’ll prepare your tooth for the incision by numbing the area around it, so you’ll feel comfortable during your treatment. He’ll then dry the tooth and drill a small hole into it to have direct access to the infected tissue affecting the root. Once he removes the tissue, he’ll seal up the root with a substance called gutta percha and complete the root canal therapy with a filling.
If you require a crown to protect your tooth, Dr. Kim will fit you with a temporary crown and have a natural-looking, permanent crown made for you that’ll be placed during a future appointment.
Post-Op Instructions for Root Canal Therapy
You should be fully recovered from your treatment within a week to ten days. You might experience some sensitivity in your tooth in the days following your treatment. Dr. Kim will provide you with specific aftercare instructions to care for your healing tooth, and you can take over-the-counter medications to help with any pain or swelling after your treatment.
Once your tooth is healed, you’re free to brush and floss around it as you normally would. Maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine is an excellent way to ensure that you won’t develop another infection in the future!
Affordable Root Canal Therapy in Mililani, Hawaii
If you believe you have an infected tooth root, give us a call right away so we can help you find the relief you deserve as soon as possible. We’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan that fits your budget. Trust us, it’s more painful (and expensive!) to deal with an infected tooth root on your own than anything you’ll experience during root canal therapy!
Contact us to schedule an appointment today!
Categorised in: Oral Health, Restorative Dentistry, Root Canal Therapy
