If the dental pulp, nerves, and tissue that lie within the root canal become infected, the only way to repair and save the tooth is through root canal therapy. When a root canal’s dental pulp and nerves become infected, the patient can go through a great deal of pain. Many people believe that root canal therapy itself is painful, but in fact, it is the infection inside the tooth that causes the pain, not the root canal therapy.
The Procedure
If your Omaha, NE, dentist has informed you that one of your teeth is infected and root canal therapy is needed, a procedure date will be set and your dentist will consult with you about your options.
Since the crown of the tooth may still be intact before the procedure, the dentist will need to begin by drilling the top of your tooth away in order to gain access to the root canal area. Local anesthesia will be administered around the tooth before the hole is drilled and a rubber dam will be placed around the tooth to catch any debris.
Once the tooth has been opened, your dentist will use a special set of dental files to work around inside the root canal to remove the damaged tissue, nerves, and dental pulp. Using sodium hydrochlorite, your dentist will then flush out the inside of the tooth to remove any remaining debris. Once the infection has been cleared out of the tooth, the hole will need to be filled with a special sealant.
It is highly recommended that our patients receive a dental crown after the root canal therapy has been completed to help protect the tooth from any further damage.
Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
Many patients will put off getting a root canal infection cleared out because of the stigma associated with the procedure. If left unchecked for too long the infection could spread from one tooth to another and can cause your gums to become inflamed and irritated.
For these reasons, we recommend contact us about root canal therapy if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Increased sensitivity.
- Severe tooth pain.
- Discoloration of the tooth.
- Swelling of the gums.
- Inflamed gums.
Save Your Teeth and Eliminate Tooth Pain With Root Canal Therapy
If you are in need of root canal therapy or any of the other services we offer at Quality Dental Care in Omaha, NE, you can contact us here or by calling 402.431.8844 to schedule an appointment.
Luckily, root canal therapy can relieve you from all of the above symptoms and the potential effects of a damaged pulp. If you think you may need a root canal, visit one of our Quality Dental Care dentists for an examination and X-ray. If a root canal procedure is right for you, your dentist will drill a hole into the tooth and remove the pulp. Your tooth will still function properly, and your symptoms will lessen significantly. After your dentist removes these nerves, he or she will clean out the tooth, fill it with a rubber-like material, and seal it so that it will look and feel as good as new.
Our patients who get a root canal procedure done experience the following advantages:
- No more toothache, sensitivity, or swelling
- Biting force returns to normal
- Chewing and speaking becomes easy again
- A beautiful and natural-looking smile
If you’re ready to eliminate your bothersome symptoms with a root canal, give us a call today. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you.