If you have an infection in your tooth pulp, you may be able to save your natural tooth with the help of painless root canal therapy. If you’re suffering from pain in your teeth and other symptoms, it may be a sign to get the help and relief you need from Granite Bay Dentistry in Granite Bay, California.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a process by which your dentist cleans out the decay inside a tooth to preserve the natural tooth. When your dentist does a root canal:
- The area is disinfected with antibiotics
- Decay and bacteria are extracted from the root, tooth pulp, and nerve
- Empty roots are then filled
- The area is sealed so that new decay doesn’t occur
The good news is that root canals can be painless, and they can help you save your tooth and prevent further decay.
Signs You Need a Root Canal
If you have an infected tooth, you may experience these symptoms:
- Sensitivity to heat or cold: Infected teeth are usually sensitive to hot or cold foods and beverages
- Pain that is persistent and getting worse: Even if your tooth pain comes and goes, the pain is a sign that something is wrong. You may feel pain deep in the tooth or even in the face and jaw
- Swollen gums: If a tooth becomes infected, your gums will begin to swell. The swelling may come and go, and the gumline around the infected tooth may be tender to the touch
- Tooth becomes discolored: The infection in a tooth can cause the tooth to become discolored. If a tooth is damaged because of trauma, discoloring will usually result
- A tooth with a crack or chip: A chipped or cracked tooth may become filled with bacteria that can cause tooth infection. Because the nerve is damaged from the injury, it becomes inflamed and painful
- The infected tooth becomes loose: In some cases, an infected tooth can cause the tooth to become loose. This happens because nerve damage causes acidic waste products to soften the bone around a dying tooth’s roots
- Pain when eating or touching the tooth: If it’s painful when eating, you may need a root canal
Does a Root Canal Hurt?
Every year, more than 15 million root canal procedures are performed in the U.S. While root canals have an undeserved reputation for being extremely painful, modern dentistry has made root canal therapy virtually pain-free.
Many people say that having a root canal done is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. The dentist will use nitrous oxide and local anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable.
The patient’s mouth is fully numbed so the dentist can disinfect the roots and clean the decay. After a root canal, your mouth may feel slightly sore.
Painless Root Canal Treatment Near Me
Granite Bay Dentistry in Granite Bay, California, also serving Roseville, Folsom, Lincoln, Lomis, and Rocklin is here to help you find relief from dental pain. Request an appointment online today, or call us at (916) 735-4720.
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