Have a Tooth Infection?
Tooth infection occurs when bacteria penetrate your enamel and reach the dental pulp, a collection of living tissues housed in the hollow spaces, or root canals of your teeth. In the past, an infection required tooth extraction to correct, but this solution isn’t always ideal. Extracted or missing teeth that aren’t replaced with dental implants may make you more susceptible to oral health issues.
Fortunately, advancements in modern dentistry allow Drs. Cortes and Prieto of Comfy Smile Dental to preserve your tooth using root canal treatment. Read on to learn more.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is a procedure used to remove the infected dental pulp from inside of your tooth to stop the infection in its tracks. The tooth is then sealed off with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. This process not only removes infected material from your tooth, but it also helps prevent the infection from spreading and stops infection from recurring.
Do I Need a Root Canal Treatment?
You may be in need of a root canal if you’re experiencing any of the following:
- Swollen gums
- Toothaches
- Gum tenderness
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages
- A damaged filling
- Tooth discoloration
- A chipped or cracked tooth
- Tooth mobility
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, give our Davie office a call at (954) 251-0804 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Cortes or Prieto will examine your teeth and gums to give you a clear diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan based on your needs.
Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Many patients fear root canal therapy is a complex, painful process, but undergoing root canal treatment can help in a number of ways. Some of the benefits of root canal treatment include:
- Boosting your oral and overall health
- Saving your teeth from extraction
- Preventing infection from returning or spreading to other parts of your body
- Eliminating the need for other, more costly restoration methods
- Alleviating pain, swelling, and sensitivity
- Restoring bite force
The Root Canal Treatment Process
- You’ll first undergo an initial consultation with one of the dentists at our Davie office. During your consultation, your dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth, review your medical history, discuss your smile goals with you, and inform you of all of your treatment options. The information they gather will help them determine if a root canal is right for you.
- If you experience dental anxiety, we also offer oral sedation to help you relax during your procedure.
- Once you’ve been approved for root canal treatment, we’ll thoroughly clean your mouth before applying a local anesthetic to the area around the affected tooth so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. If requested, we’ll also make sure your sedation option is working alongside the anesthetic.
- We’ll place a rubber dam around the affected tooth so nothing can enter the surgical site during the procedure.
- Your dentist will use special dental tools to open a small hole in your tooth so they can access the dental pulp. They’ll then remove all damaged and infected material, as well as disinfect the inside of the tooth.
- Once the tooth is completely clean, they’ll fill the inside of the tooth with gutta-percha to seal the tooth off and prevent reinfection. Finally, depending on the damage, your dentist will decide if a filling or a dental crown is needed to restore the tooth to its optimal health.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you postpone root canal treatment, the symptoms will not go away on their own. The pain will persist and the infection and decay might worsen.
If the infection of the pulp goes untreated, it can spread to your gums and jaw, potentially leading to a tooth abscess. Delaying root canal therapy can also lead to the loss of the affected tooth or it can increase the decay of your surrounding teeth.
If you’re in need of root canal treatment, give us a call so we can put an end to your pain and restore your oral health.
The root canal treatment is usually tolerated well among most patients with minimal complaints of discomfort. If you do experience pain, it can be managed with a cold compress and over-the-counter pain relievers.
For the best outcome, it’s important to follow any guidelines given by Dr. Cortes or Dr. Prieto after the procedure. This will ensure your smile is restored as quickly as possible with the best results.
Although it’s uncommon, root canals may become infected if bacteria enter the tooth or soft tissue during the procedure. That’s why choosing a trusted dentist, such as Dr. Cortes or Dr. Prieto, is especially important to ensure your needs are met and that you have the best possible outcome.
Treatment time varies depending on your specific needs. In general, a root canal treatment will take one to two appointments that will last about 90 minutes each. For a more specific time frame, it’s best to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cortes or Dr. Prieto by calling (954) 251-0804. Then, they can examine your oral health and provide you with a customized treatment plan including a time frame.
The price of a root canal depends on your unique needs and the details of the procedure. Insurance may cover a portion of the expenses and we offer flexible financing options for your convenience. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage or financing options, give us a call at (954) 251-0804 and one of our team members will be happy to assist you.
Save Your Tooth From Extraction & Restore Your Smile
Not only can root canals eliminate infection and alleviate pain, but also it can help restore and protect your oral health, leaving you with a smile that will last for years to come. If you’re experiencing any possible symptoms of tooth infection or believe you may need a root canal, call Comfy Smile Dental’s Davie office at (954) 251-0804. You can also fill out our contact form and a friendly team member will get back to you shortly.