For those who grew up afraid of the dentist, there is nothing scarier than hearing that you need to get root canal therapy. Root canal therapy has gained quite a bad reputation, and perhaps unfairly so- because they work to treat and save severely decayed or infected teeth.
If you need root canal therapy in Sherwood Park, the chances are that you are already experiencing intense levels of pain or discomfort. It may please you to discover that root canal treatment will greatly reduce your discomfort and even completely alleviate your pain.
Put simply, root canal therapy near you is a tooth-saving treatment. Like any dental procedure, a root canal is meant to restore your healthy and strong teeth. In most cases, a root canal is only performed if the only alternative is to extract your tooth. It is always in your best interest to keep your natural teeth in your mouth for as long as possible.
Read more to learn about root canal therapy and understand why our team at Aspire Smiles endorses root canal treatment as a tooth-saving and health-enhancing procedure.
What is a Root Canal?
If you have a badly infected tooth, where the nerves have become inflamed, your dentist in Sherwood Park will recommend that you get root canal treatment.
A root canal is required to remove the infected or decayed tissue before it can form an abscess and cause the tooth to die.
How Are Root Canals Performed?
Root canal treatment at our dental clinic near you involves our dentist administering a local anesthetic before drilling a small hole in your tooth to access and remove the infected tissue. They will then disinfect the area before sealing it to avoid further infection.
Our dentist will restore the affected tooth with a dental crown at the end of your root canal treatment. This will protect the tooth and provide it with extra strength and support so that it can continue to function fully and contribute to your healthy, beautiful smile.
Recovering from a Root Canal
Root canal treatments are known for their very high success rate. With a 95% success rate, most patients who get their teeth restored with a root canal enjoy their natural teeth for the rest of their life.
It is normal to experience some discomfort and sensitivity for the first few days after getting root canal treatment, which can be eased with over-the-counter painkillers. Some swelling is also normal, and you can help reduce this with cold compresses on the outside of your cheeks.
While complications are rare, it is important to look out for them. Undetected cracks in the tooth, problems with the dental crown, or a breakdown of the filling can cause bacteria to enter and re-infect the area. When these occur, your dentist will have to perform further treatments to save your tooth.
Do You Need a Root Canal?
Once a root canal is complete, you can smile, speak, and chew confidently, knowing that your once weak tooth has been restored to full strength and function. If your dentist tells you that you need a root canal, just remember that root canal treatment works to save your tooth and alleviate your pain, not cause you further pain. To learn more about root canal treatment, contact our team at Aspire Smiles today.