Root Canal Treatment can Save Your Tooth

Root Canal Procedure

The root canal procedure will start with testing and x-rays. The dentist will likely tap the tooth and touch an ice cube and warm heat to make sure they x-ray the proper tooth. When they know the exact tooth, they then put the suave on the gum and after a few minutes administer the anesthetic.

A plastic sheet is placed over the mouth to keep the area clean and isolate the tooth. A small hole is made in the top of the tooth, and small instruments clean the root and remove the pulp. The canal is sterilized to ensure all infection is removed. The canal is filled with biocompatible material, and the root is sealed. Often the tooth may have had severe enough damage that it may need a dental crown. However, we often go through a former dental crown to perform the root canal. We are often asked, “How long a root canal takes” and this procedure can usually be performed in 60 to 90 minutes and can be done in one visit.

If the crown of the tooth needs to be replaced the time will be extended and a second visit will be needed to place the dental crown.

An Endodontist Specializes in Root Canals

The word “Root Canal” has two meanings. Root canals are the passages (chambers) that run from the crown of a tooth all the way to the tip of the root. All teeth have 1-4 root canals. This chamber is also referred to as the “pulp”, and it contains blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. When the inner area (pulp) of a tooth (root canal) becomes infected, you may need endodontic therapy also known as a “Root Canal”.
Endodontists specialize in saving teeth by a process known as “endodontic therapy” or root canal. This procedure removes the diseased tissue, halts the spread of infection, and restores the healthy portion of the tooth. This remarkable treatment was designed as the alternative to extracting a diseased tooth and has had great success so far.

A large portion of tooth problems are caused by infections that spread to the inner chamber of the tooth. Physical injuries can damage the pulp, and when infections worsen, they can affect the root of the tooth. Diseases in the inner tooth lead to pain and sensitivity, and an aggressive infection can form small pockets of puss that may lead to an abscess also known.

Root Canal Cost
As we mentioned above, each tooth has between 1 to 4 roots, and the cost varies depending on the number of roots and the complexity. The cost is between $600 and $1,000, but even that depends on how much is covered by insurance. Insurance usually covers between 50 to 80% of the cost depending on the carrier and the plan. Feel free to call us @ (770) 423-4900.

Root Canal Symptoms 
You will have far more pain before a root canal than during or after treatment. Most patients report a toothache that may start as a sensitive tooth they hadn’t noticed before. It may be from sweets or hot or cold. It may seem similar to other problems you may have had in the past. This may go on for several days or even a couple of weeks. Soon you will be calling to schedule an appointment, but then it will become worse. You may even notice some swelling in the area. At this point, the pain will be unbearable, and you will want to see your emergency dentist ASAP. At that point, it isn’t unreasonable to request an appointment the same day. Until you can get in to see the endodontist some Ibuprofen may help.

Assuming it is an abscessed tooth the best short-term relief of the pain is an antibiotic along with a short term pain reliever until the antibiotic can take effect which may.

Do Root Canals Hurt?
A painless root canal may sound like an oxymoron, but new techniques are making it a reality. Root Canals no longer have to be painful or scary. Pain for the injection is eliminated by first applying a suave to the gum near the problem tooth then the injection is given to numb the area around the tooth. If anyone feels pain during the procedure, the endodontist will gladly provide more anesthetic.

Pain After a Root Canal
There may be some mild pain after the anesthetic wears off and it is often suggested that a mild pain reliever such as Ibuprofen (not Aspirin – as it may cause bleeding) is suggested before the anesthetic ends. If there is any severe pain, feel free to call the office.

Root Canal Recovery
You may be sent home with a prescription for an antibiotic and pain reliever. However, Ibuprofen is usually sufficient. You shouldn’t bite or chew on the tooth until the dentist clears it. Brush, floss and ensure you use good dental hygiene along with regular dental hygienists cleanings and checkups. Root Canal are usually superior to extractions. However, the tooth is still susceptible to decay as any normal tooth and may need to be extracted if it becomes too decayed.

Root Canal vs. Extractions
While there can be a complication from root canals, extractions have their problems and lead to even more long-term complications. There is no doubt that extractions are cheaper than root canals; extractions end up being the first step. Extractions limit proper digestion because of reduced crewing and place demand on the other teeth. If you have a dental implant, often a bone graph is needed, and the whole process takes nine months before that dental implant can be used. Truly, a root canal is usually the best option.

When Crowning a Tooth Requires a Root Canal                                

During a tooth crowning procedure, your dentist may suddenly tell you the tooth also needs a root canal.  Although, this is a surprise for you, pre-crown x-rays don’t always show the extent of the decay inside your tooth. 

So, how does a patient get comfortable with the news?

Simply put, when a tooth requires a root canal in the middle of crowning a tooth, it’s best to get it done.  When your dentist drills out the decay and it reaches the nerve “pulp chamber” of a tooth, you need a root canal. The nerve tissue will not stay viable, “stay alive.”  It will die and begin its own decaying process that will eventually fill all the nerve chambers of the tooth and push out the tip of the root to form an abscess.  If you wait on the root canal, and cement the crown, your dentist will need to drill a hole in your crown to perform the root canal. 

The root canal is performed to clean out the dead and dying nerve tissue on the inside of the tooth, then filled with dental filler materials.

The picture shows a hole that was drilled in a crown to perform a root canal. After it is completed, the hole will be filled with tooth colored material, that matches the crown color.  Although drilling the hole weakens the integrity of the crown, a root canaled crown can last many years and provide functional use.