Root Canals In Saukville
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What to Expect During Your Root Canal Appointment
Pre-Procedure Consultation
Once you arrive at our dental office, Dr. Rachel Cook or Dr. Schellhorns will review your medical history and take X-rays to evaluate your condition accurately. During this time, he will also discuss any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure.
Anesthesia
The dentist will then administers local anesthesia to numb the area around the affected tooth to ensure your comfort during the procedure.
Treatment Process
During the actual root canal procedure, Dr. Cook or Dr. Schellhorns will use specialized tools to clean out the infected area of the tooth and remove any decay. He'll then fill the empty spaces to protect the tooth's root.
Aftercare Recommendations
After your root canal is completed, Dr. Cook or Dr. Schellhorns will provide detailed post-treatment care recommendations to help you keep your teeth healthy and promote long-term success for the procedure.
Benefits of Root Canals
Avoids Tooth Extractions
Most people would rather save their natural teeth than have them extracted. That's why we offer root canals to preserve your tooth and avoid having to remove it altogether.
Prevents Further Damage
When done correctly, a root canal can prevent further damage from occurring and stop other problems from developing down the line. Since the procedure removes the cause of infection, bacteria have less opportunity to spread outwards or downwards.
Saves Your Smile
A tooth treated with a root canal and restored with a dental crown or filling will maintain its natural appearance, contributing to a healthy and attractive smile.
Did you know…
Root canals are perfectly safe for any patient.
FAQs
How long does a root canal take?
Generally, a root canal treatment can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours per visit. The therapy can be completed in one or two appointments.
Is recovery after a root canal difficult?
On average, recovery from a root canal is relatively straightforward. However, following all aftercare instructions and being mindful of any post-procedure pain you may experience due to swelling or tenderness around the treatment area is essential. Dr. Rachel Cook recommends taking pain relievers for any discomfort to speed up your recovery process.
Is It Painful to Get a Root Canal?
No, root canals don’t hurt, even for severe cases of dental decay. That’s because the dentist will use a local anesthetic (lidocaine or epinephrine) to numb the affected tooth and surrounding area. Anesthetic blocks signal from the nerves from reaching the brain, ensuring a completely painless procedure.
However, it’s not uncommon to experience mild pain and swelling near the affected tooth after the treatment. This is perfectly normal and the pain should dissipate in a few days. Your dentist might prescribe pain medication to manage the pain and you can use an ice pack to reduce the swelling.
What Is Done During a Root Canal?
A root canal is a relatively straightforward treatment that only takes 30 to 60 minutes. After examining your teeth and giving you the green light, the dentist will inject lidocaine or epinephrine into the gums beneath the affected tooth. This numbs the nerves in the tooth and gums, allowing for a painless procedure.
Once the tooth is completely numb, the dentist drills an access hole on top of the tooth. This hole allows access to the pulp cavity, where the dentist scoops out the infected pulp. After removing all the infected pulp, they use an anti-bacterial spray to irrigate the pulp cavity and eliminate bacteria.
The dentist then seals the access hole to finish the treatment. Patients with severe tooth decay might require dental crowns to restore their tooth structure.
What Are the Signs You Need a Root Canal?
The most obvious sign you need a root canal is severe tooth pain that won’t go away. The acid produced by bacteria in the pulp cavity irritates the nerve endings, causing severe pain. Your dentist will remove the infected pulp and irrigate the pulp to eliminate bacteria and stop the pain permanently.
You might also need a root canal if you crack or chip your tooth. Damage to the tooth can create crevices for bacteria to reach the pulp at the core tooth’s core. The bacteria might infect the pulp necessitating a root canal. The treatment is also necessary if your teeth show discoloration from dental decay.
Do You Need a Crown After a Root Canal?
No, dental crowns aren’t mandatory after a root canal. However, some dentists might recommend dental crowns after the treatment. This is especially true for patients with severe dental decay that has decimated the teeth.
You see, part of the root canal process involves removing decayed portions of the tooth. Doing so only leaves a fraction of the tooth intact. A dental crown replaces the missing portions, restoring the tooth’s shape and structural integrity. However, they’re unnecessary for cases of mild to moderate decay where the tooth maintains its structure.
Is an Extraction a Good Alternative to a Root Canal?
Tooth extraction is an alternative treatment to root canals for dental decay. However, most dentists wouldn’t recommend extracting your teeth for various reasons. First, tooth extraction is a complicated process and takes months to heal. Whereas, root canals take no more than an hour and heal within a few days.
A tooth extraction might also necessitate further restorative treatment like dental implants or bridges. These are expensive treatments that you can easily sidestep by getting a root canal instead.
Did you know…
Root canals can save time and money. Root canal treatment can be more cost-effective than tooth extraction and replacement, particularly when considering long-term maintenance and replacement needs.
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