Root Canals
Do you have ongoing tooth pain? Or does a tooth feel much more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks? These may be signs that you have a tooth infection that requires the right treatment. Our dentist at Rock Island Family Dentistry offers root canals in Inver Grove Heights, MN, to eliminate infections at the root and reduce the risk of additional damage.
What Are Root Canals?
These are procedures that involve removing infected tissue from the pulp of your tooth. The pulp is the inner part of a tooth containing root canals that can harbor bacteria and lead to infections. Root canal therapy cleans these out, treating infections and stopping them from spreading.
What Are Signs You Might Need This Procedure?
Not every case of tooth pain requires a root canal. This procedure is only needed when the pulp of the tooth is affected. But some signs that may indicate you need this kind of care include the following:
- Ongoing pain that gets worse when you bite or chew
- Deep cracks or chips in teeth
- Increased sensitivity to heat and cold that lingers
- Dark, discolored gums or teeth
- Gum swelling
- Small bumps or pimples on gums
What Are the Benefits of Root Canals?
This procedure has many advantages, such as:
- Saving teeth from extraction
- Relieving pain
- Stopping infections from spreading to other areas
- Restores chewing ability
- Provides safe treatment
What Happens During a Root Canal?
Wondering what to expect when you have this kind of treatment? We start with local anesthesia to numb the area to prevent you from feeling anything. After it’s numb, we open the tooth and use dental tools to clean out the root canals.
After eliminating infected tissue, we disinfect the canals to keep bacteria from causing more infections. We then fill the tooth and seal it with a crown for ongoing protection.
Do Root Canals Hurt?
Worried about this procedure being painful? Root canals have this reputation, but it’s based on earlier methods. Advancements in dental techniques and technology have improved the way dentists do root canals these days. This procedure is about the same as getting a filling in terms of discomfort. Although you may have soreness when the anesthesia wears off, you won’t experience pain or discomfort during treatment.
What to Expect During Root Canal Recovery
Does it take awhile to recover? No, you can usually go right back to your regular activities after having this dental procedure. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers for soreness when the anesthesia wears off. We may advise you to watch what you eat as your tooth recovers to ensure proper healing.
Visit Our Dentist for a Root Canal
Do you have a tooth with infected pulp? At Rock Island Family Dentistry, our dentist offers root canals in Inver Grove Heights, MN, to treat these infections and help save your natural teeth. We can evaluate the affected tooth and determine the right treatment for it. If a root canal is needed, we’ll provide additional details on what to expect.
