There are a few dental cases where you may require a root canal treatment to preserve your oral health. Usually, your provider recommends a root canal when you have an infection or tooth injury. The treatment prevents the further spread of the infection to healthy teeth, lowers the risk of jawbone degeneration, and improves the teeth’s appearance.
Your provider recommends a root canal to preserve your teeth and avoid extraction. If you have a damaged or infected tooth, you can benefit from root canals in Houston. Call The Dental Design Studios today to schedule your consultation.
What are root canals?
Root canals are an endodontic treatment to conserve an infected or injured permanent tooth. The procedure involves your provider removing the soft center of your tooth, the pulp. The pulp is only helpful while your teeth develop; however, it does not provide any other benefits afterward.
After the pulp removal, place a crown to cover your teeth cap and enhance teeth functions, including chewing, biting, and stopping further harm.
What dental issues do root canals fix?
Your provider recommends a root canal to treat infected and destroyed tooth pulp caused by:
- Oral trauma
- Deep cavities
- Multiple dental procedures such as fillings or bonding
- Chips or fractures
During the developing stage, an infected pulp may not cause any symptoms. But as the problem advances, you may feel a heat sensation in your gums, pain, or swelling that does not go away with over-the-counter medications or ice.
What does a root canal procedure involve?
A root canal treatment at The Dental Design Studios involves two appointments with a week gap.
The first appointment
Your provider first performs an oral exam and asks questions regarding your symptoms. Then takes multiple oral X-ray images to review your tooth and find out the extent of the infection.
Dr. Hernandez then administers local anesthesia to prevent discomfort. She reaches the damaged tooth and gently removes the pulp. Next, she rinses the tooth center with an antibiotic solution. The solution removes harmful bacteria and minimizes the risk of another infection.
Then she fills up the tooth with a sponge-like material, gutta-percha. After the gutta-percha dries, she takes your tooth impressions. Next, she sends the impressions to a lab to design a custom crown.
When leaving the office, Dr. Hernandez places a temporary crown on the treated tooth.
Second appointment
You return to The Dental Design Studio office a week later, where your provider removes the temporary crown and replaces it with a permanent one. She then fixes the crown in place, evaluates your bite, and provides care instructions.
What to expect during recovery?
You can expect to experience some swelling and elevated sensitivity after the root canal treatment. It would be best to avoid biting down or chewing within the first few days of your treatment. You should also take the prescribed medications and brush and floss gently around the treated part.
Talk to a root canal specialist today
Root canals help preserve your oral health without having to extract damaged teeth. The treatment also prevents the infection from spreading to the adjacent teeth. Contact The Dental Design Studio today to learn more about a root canal procedure.
