Root Canal Therapy in Hewitt, TX
Relieve Tooth Pain With Root Canal Therapy
A sharpness of pain in your mouth can indicate that your tooth is infected. To save your smile, root canal therapy may be required to restore your oral health. While many think this treatment is a painful process, the procedure is actually virtually painless and straightforward. At Central Texas Dental Care, our expert dentists use safe sedation methods and advanced techniques to perform root canal therapy and revitalize your smile.
Learn more about what to expect from this treatment and whether you’re a candidate for root canal therapy. Our staff will be more than happy to walk you through the process.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is a restorative procedure used by our experienced dentists when a tooth decays or a cavity has been left untreated for too long, leading to an oral infection. The root canal is the inner chamber of your tooth that contains the pulp, which is made up of sensitive nerves and blood vessels. If bacteria infects the pulp of your tooth, it can cause extreme pain and sensitivity.
It’s important to schedule a consultation with one of our Hewitt dentists if you experience any discomfort. If left untreated, an infected tooth can lead to tooth loss and spread to different areas of your mouth. In severe cases, it can also lead to life-threatening complications.
Signs You Need Root Canal Therapy
It’s important to know about the signs related to an infected tooth. Root canal therapy can be the procedure that saves your tooth from infection while protecting your natural smile. The following symptoms may indicate that you need treatment:
- Severe toothache
- Swollen and tender gums around the tooth
- Pain when chewing
- Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold
- Discolored tooth
How Root Canal Therapy Works
The procedure for root canal therapy can be completed in one appointment at our Hewitt dental office. To begin your treatment, one of our dentists will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area around your infected tooth to eliminate any pain you may potentially experience.
During your root canal treatment, a small hole will be created to remove the bacteria in the tooth and then we’ll fill the empty chamber with a specialized dental resin. This material will help guard against further infection for your tooth. Your dentist will reseal the tooth and protect it with a durable, custom-made porcelain crown. This will eliminate your pain and prevent the need to extract your tooth in the future.
Extracting the Tooth
If your tooth can’t be saved with root canal therapy, we may recommend having the infected tooth removed to prevent further complications. Our offices provide services for you to receive a dental implant, which can replace your tooth with a natural-looking crown that will enhance the rest of your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does root canal therapy hurt?
Our methods for treating infected teeth have become virtually painless as technology has progressed. During the procedure, our staff will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable. Before the treatment, we’ll use a local anesthetic to numb your tooth. Many patients who have undergone root canal therapy compare it to getting a cavity filled.
It’s also normal to experience some mild discomfort after the procedure, but this should dissipate within a week. If you still feel pain more than a week after treatment, call our Hewitt office at (254) 666-1686, as this can mean there’s a complication with your tooth.
What is root canal retreatment?
Root canal retreatment occurs when a patient’s tooth get re-infected after root canal therapy. Though uncommon, this can happen if all the infection isn’t cleared out, there’s a complicated tooth root structure, or if there’s an issue with the protections we put in place.
If you’re in need of root canal retreatment, one of our experienced dentists will thoroughly clean out your tooth and refill it. Reinfection doesn’t mean your tooth is lost, as another procedure can still preserve it.
How can you tell if a tooth is dead?
A dying tooth often looks discolored — it can appear yellow, brown, gray, or black. You’re also likely to experience toothaches or gum pain around the tooth. Severe pain may also indicate that the nerves in your tooth are dying, which can become more sensitive if untreated.
If you’re experiencing severe pain in your mouth or if you’re uncertain your tooth is dead, we urge you to schedule an appointment at Central Texas Dental Care so our expert dentists can determine the cause and solution to your tooth pain.
How long does root canal therapy take?
Root canal therapy is generally completed in a single appointment and lasts around 90 minutes, though the actual process depends on the complexity of your root canal. If more than one tooth is affected or if your case is severe, more than one appointment may be required.
Our staff will make sure you’re comfortable during treatment and that your tooth is safe.
Get to the Root of the Problem
A tooth infection won’t get better until you receive professional care. Thankfully, our expert dentists at Central Texas Dental Care are professionally trained to use root canal therapy to save your tooth and shield you from further pain.
To learn more about how you can revitalize your smile, give our Hewitt office a call at (254) 666-1686 or use our easy contact form for a staff member to get right back to you.
