Root Canal Therapy

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy involves removing decayed or infected areas inside of your tooth, alleviating pain and saving the tooth from continued decay. In cases like these, it’s the decay that’s causing the pain wrongly associated with root canal therapy. The treatment is not nearly as painful as the problem itself.

How Do I Know if I Need a Root Canal Treatment?

The best way to determine the need for root canal therapy is by having Dr. Wooten examine your teeth and take x-rays to see what’s going on inside the afflicted tooth. Signs and symptoms that you might need a root canal include:

• Spontaneous pain in the tooth or surrounding area (even when you aren’t eating or drinking)
• Severe dental pain that can wake you up in the middle of the night
• A toothache that gets worse when you eat or when pressure is applied
• Discoloration or darkening of a tooth
• Recurring swelling of the gums surrounding a tooth or group of teeth
• Gum tenderness
• Abscesses
• Extreme sensitivity to cold or heat

Ignoring these symptoms can be detrimental to your oral health—not to mention super painful—if left untreated. If Dr. Wooten believes that a root canal treatment is needed, we’ll discuss two very important things: the initial procedure and pain management. We want you to feel at ease and as relaxed as possible during your root canal therapy.

What Happens During a Root Canal Treatment?

This treatment is typically performed in a single visit. Before we start the procedure, the affected area is fully anesthetized. If your tooth is severely infected, we may opt to place the medication in your canals for one to two weeks before completing the root canal therapy. Effective decontamination is important for the healing process. A temporary filling may also be used in-between treatments so that the area remains sterile.

What About Root Canal After-care?

After your root canal is complete, you may experience discomfort for about two days. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth during that time until the tenderness has dissipated. Dr. Wooten will prescribe a final restoration for the tooth, based on the individual needs and circumstances of each patient.

To learn more about how a root canal treatment may alleviate your pain and restore your smile, contact Wooten Dentistry via phone, email, or schedule an appointment online.