Root Canal Treatment
No one looks forward to needing root canal treatment. If you should need this common type of endodontics therapy, you should know that the procedure will save your tooth affected by severe decay or inflammation. When it comes to a root canal dentist Framingham residents are in good hands. Root canal therapy will remove the infection, save your tooth, and immediately free you from pain.
What is a root canal?
A root canal procedure is a common dental treatment for severely infected or inflamed teeth, specifically the dental pulp at the heart of the tooth. If your tooth should become damaged, this can allow bacteria to enter and infect the dental pulp. Considering that the dental pulp contains a variety of nerves, an infection that reaches here will result in severe pain and the need for an extraction or root canal treatment. A root canal procedure is preferable, as it saves the affected tooth.
What To Expect
If you should need a root canal procedure, your dentist would begin by numbing the tooth with an anesthetic so that you are comfortable during the procedure. Once your tooth is completely numb, they will drill down into the tooth from the top, allowing for the access of dental instruments.
Next, your dentist will drill out all tooth decay and remove the dental pulp. They will clean out the root canal chambers and fill them with a protective material called gutta-percha. Next, they will place a dental filling over the tooth to protect it from further decay.
In most cases, the final part of getting a root canal procedure is returning for a subsequent appointment for the placement of a dental crown over the treated tooth. This is necessary because a tooth treated with a root canal procedure will be weaker and more susceptible to damage without a crown to protect it.
FAQ
Here are a few frequently asked questions about root canal therapy:
Why would I need a root canal?
Some reasons why you might need a root canal treatment include:
- Tenderness and swelling near a specific tooth
- Severe pain whenever you bite down or chew
- A bubble or pimple on the gums near the affected tooth
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Is a root canal as painful as they say it is?
Probably the most common myth about root canals is that they cause pain. In reality, they relieve pain by addressing the cause of the problem: an infected dental pulp. Your dentist will remove the dental pulp and immediately relieve your pain. A root canal should be no more uncomfortable than getting a dental filling.
What are the chances that the procedure is successful?
Over 15 million root canal procedures are performed every year in the United States. Over 95% of them are successful and save the patient’s natural tooth.
Learn more with a consultation today! New patients are welcome.
