A root canal. Does the very mention of it scare you? It really shouldn't, as root canal therapy (endodontics) is one of the most reliable and comfortable restorative treatments around. At Summit Lakes Dental Care in Lee's Summit, Dr. David Beck and Dr. Suzanne Beck recommend a root canal when a tooth is seriously damaged, infected, and/or in danger of extraction. Read below to learn the signs that point to you needing this dental service and what you can expect from the procedure.
What is root canal therapy?
A root canal procedure removes the soft pulp from deep inside a tooth. A tooth has interior chambers which run down each of its roots. When the pulp becomes damaged through infection, injury or other circumstance, Dr. Beck can remove it and seal and protect the tooth, saving it for many years of additional service.
While many people think root canal therapy is painful and lengthy, it truly is not. As a matter of fact, it quickly stops the painful symptoms most patients had been experiencing prior to treatment, and the procedure only takes two visits to Summit Lakes Dental Care:
- One to evaluate the tooth, anesthetize it, remove the diseased pulp, and disinfect and seal/canals
- And another to protect the remaining tooth structure with a beautiful porcelain crown
Root canal therapy preserves and strengthens a tooth for many years--even a lifetime, says the American Association of Endodontists. When Dr. Beck recommends the procedure, rest assured that it will succeed and have a nearly instant positive effect on your oral health. Root canal therapy is a wonderful alternative to extraction because any smile gap harms your appearance, oral function, bone density, strength, and position of remaining teeth.
Signs you need a root canal
Dr. Beck will advise root canal therapy if you:
- Have persistent toothache pain or sensitivity (when chewing or when drinking something hot or cold)
- Experience jaw or gum swelling
- Have a pimple on the gums near the affected tooth
- Cannot cure your bad breath
- Have drainage coming from the site
- Are running a fever and feel generally tired and rundown
- Have lost a substantial amount of tooth structure above the gum line due to decay, multipie fillings or injury
If you have these symptoms, please contact your dentist right away for an examination and X-rays. Prompt treatment is important!
Keep your tooth
A root canal procedure is no more difficult than getting a filling. So, contact Summit Lakes Dental Care's Lee's Summit office right away if you are concerned about the health of a tooth. Call (816) 875-3339.