Does drinking iced tea or hot coffee have you agonizing in pain? Maybe one of your teeth has simply been hurting constantly for a while now. In either case, it would seem you are dealing with an infection inside the dental pulp – the bundle of nerve endings located at the center of your tooth. Since this area is so sensitive, it can cause discomfort to the degree that it interferes with your daily life. Hope is not lost, however, because here at Stone Street Dental, we want nothing more than to relieve your tooth pain through restoration and give you a reason to smile once again. Contact us so Dr. Garrad can get you back on track with root canal treatment in Greenville!
Why Choose Stone Street Dental For Root Canal Treatment?
Same-day emergency dental appointments
Proudly welcome dental insurance
Multiple dental sedation options
Do I Need Root Canal Treatment?
The most common indication of the need for a root canal is a severe, persistent toothache. However, that is certainly not the only symptom to look for. Other signs you might need a root canal include:
- Extreme, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages
- Sharp pain when biting down
- Dark discoloration of a tooth
- Swelling or redness of the gums surrounding a tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gums near a tooth
As soon as you notice any of these symptoms, contact our team. We’ll get you in for an appointment ASAP.
The Root Canal Process
The term “root canal” gets a bad rap, but this procedure is actually painless. In fact, by removing the infected nerve of the tooth, a root canal is designed to relieve pain. Plus, your emergency dentist in Greenville will numb your mouth with a local anesthetic beforehand so you will remain comfortable throughout the process. If needed, we also have multiple sedation options available to help you relax.
We will begin by using special instruments to access the inner chambers of the tooth and remove the pulp that’s triggering your pain. After sanitizing the area, we’ll refill it with a synthetic gutta-percha material to retain the tooth’s shape. The next step is to seal and protect the tooth by placing a temporary dental crown. As your mouth heals, the area around the tooth might feel a bit sore and tender.
A few weeks later, we will see you at our dental office. Then, we’ll switch out your temporary crown for a permanent one. At that point, the underlying tooth should be fully protected. You’ll be able to use it as you normally would – bring on that cup of coffee!
The Benefits Of Getting A Root Canal
While tooth replacement options like dental implants have their benefits for your smile, preserving your natural tooth should always be the primary goal. If you hesitate to get a root canal when you need one, the infection might progress to the point of no return and your tooth will have to be extracted entirely. Removing and replacing a tooth is a much more complex, time-consuming, and wallet-draining venture than root canal treatment.
In addition to saving your natural tooth, root canal treatment has other benefits:
- Virtually pain-free procedure: Thanks to the advanced dental technology we use, getting a root canal is about as comfortable as the process for an ordinary filling.
- High success rate: The vast majority of root canal patients retain their treated tooth for decades, if not the rest of their lives.
- Aesthetically pleasing results: After your root canal, your tooth will be restored with a custom-made dental crown that seamlessly blends in with the rest of your smile.
Understanding The Cost Of Root Canals
If you’re struggling with a severely decayed or damaged tooth, our team may be able to preserve it via root canal treatment. However, to avoid any surprises when you get the bill, you may want to know as much as possible about the overall price of the treatment. To receive an accurate estimate of how much you’ll need to pay, be sure to schedule an appointment with our team. We’ll walk you through your treatment process as well as your financing options for making your procedure more manageable. Until you visit, here are several factors to consider about the cost of root canal treatment in Greenville.
Dr. Garrad will talk extensively with you at your consultation about what you ought to expect from the treatment, and she’ll take the time to address any concerns that you may have about it. Until you can meet her, here are answers to some of the most common questions about root canals.
Call our Greenville, TX office or book online to schedule your root canal evaluation.
Root Canal FAQs
Root canals don’t have the best reputation. The treatment isn’t nearly as scary as it’s made out to be, but we understand that many patients are still nervous about it.
Are Root Canals Painful?
When we perform root canals, we always use powerful local anesthetics to numb the tooth that we’re treating completely. This serves to make the treatment completely painless from start to finish. So to answer the question, no, root canals are not painful.
There was an era when dental anesthetics were not as powerful as they are now, and as a result, root canals may have once been uncomfortable. They’re also used to treat severe toothaches, so patients may naturally associate the treatment with discomfort. However, neither of these facts has any bearing on how a modern root canal will make you feel.
Do I Still Need A Root Canal If My Toothache Went Away?
It’s not uncommon for patients to be told that a toothache will require a root canal to treat, only to find that the pain soon disappears. While it may feel like a relief, this actually isn’t a good sign.
Toothaches are a consequence of bacteria attacking the nerve tissue within the tooth. When the bacterial infection progresses too far, it can decay the nerve tissue to such an extent that you can no longer feel the tooth. If this happens, it’ll feel like your toothache has suddenly disappeared, when the truth is that it’s actually worse than ever.
If your dentist says you need a root canal, then you should get one, even if you can no longer feel a toothache.
Do Root Canals Ever Have To Be Redone?
Root canals have a very high success rate, but there are some instances where it’s necessary to redo one when something has gone wrong. Here are a few examples:
- Saliva infiltrated the tooth during the treatment.
- A long gap between getting the root canal and placing your permanent crown.
- The tooth had more canals than expected, not all of which were disinfected.
- Damage to the dental crown leading to a new infection.
- New areas of decay in the tooth
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
You can protect your teeth from needing a new root canal by keeping up with your dental hygiene, preventing the bacteria that cause toothaches from flourishing. You should make sure that you’re brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash as much as you need to. It’s also important to see us for routine teeth cleanings twice a year.
Being conscientious about your diet is another good way to prevent infection. Avoid eating a ton of sugar, and drink plenty of water to wash away food particles that are stuck in your mouth.