Save Your Tooth From Extraction
The root canal is the inner chamber of your tooth that contains blood vessels and nerve tissues, also known as the pulp of your tooth. If your pulp becomes infected, it’s often severely painful and can lead to tooth loss without prompt treatment.
Thankfully, Dr. Ang can relieve your pain and save your infected tooth with root canal therapy. By taking advantage of this treatment, you can halt the spread of bacteria in your mouth and live your life pain-free.
Signs You May Need Root Canal Therapy
If you experience any of the following symptoms, there’s a good chance that bacteria has reached the pulp of your tooth. Without treatment, this bacteria will continue to spread and infect your surrounding teeth, so it’s essential that you contact us right away.
Symptoms of an infected root canal include:
- Severe toothache
- Pain while chewing
- Prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold
- Discolored tooth
- Swollen and tender gums around the tooth
How the Procedure Works
The treatment begins with Dr. Ang administering a local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth. He’ll then create an opening in your tooth so he can remove the damaged tissue and fill the empty chamber with a rubbery material that will prevent further infection. Finally, he’ll re-seal your tooth and protect it with a durable, natural-looking dental crown.
Root canal therapy is a relatively fast procedure that will save you money over the long-term, eliminating the need to remove your tooth and replace it with a restoration. Most importantly, your pain will be gone.
Tooth Extraction
We’ll do everything in our power to avoid extraction, but if you don’t seek treatment at the earliest sign of infection, it may be the only option. In cases like these, we recommend placing a dental implant to restore health and beauty to your smile.
As an alternative, we also provide customized dentures and fixed bridges to replace missing teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does root canal therapy hurt?
Contrary to popular belief, root canal therapy is not painful. In fact, neglecting to treat your infected tooth will result in far greater pain. Rest assured, Dr. Ang will prioritize your comfort and safety throughout the procedure.
Should my tooth hurt a week after the procedure?
You may experience some discomfort after a root canal procedure, but this should go away within a week. If you’re experiencing any pain past this point, you may still have a low-grade infection around your tooth that requires additional treatment.
What is root canal retreatment?
In some cases, your tooth fails to heal after root canal therapy or ends up becoming infected again. If this occurs, we’ll provide a root canal retreatment by thoroughly cleaning out your tooth chamber and re-filling it with more of the rubbery material that guards against infection.
What is a hot tooth?
Hot tooth refers to irreversible pulpitis in your root canal, when swelling in your tissues causes pressure and throbbing pain. This occurs when your enamel wears down from decay and leaves your nerves exposed. As a result, your tooth becomes extremely sensitive to hot and cold.
How can you tell if a tooth is dead?
The most obvious sign of a dying tooth is discoloration. It may appear yellow, brown, gray, or even black. You’ll also likely experience pain in your tooth and gums.
How do I know if the nerves in my tooth are dead?
Though you may expect a dead nerve in your tooth to cause numbness, it actually results in severe pain. This is because the pain comes from nerve endings around the edges of your tooth, which are extremely sensitive.
Can root canal therapy cause headaches?
Successful root canal therapy should only lead to mild discomfort for a few days that can be easily managed with over-the-counter medications. If you’re experiencing headaches or any other type of debilitating pain after treatment, you should contact us immediately.
How long does root canal therapy take?
Typically, root canal therapy is completed in one appointment. However, in the case of larger infections, we may choose to medicate your teeth for a week or two before completing the procedure.
Visit Amherst Village Dental for Root Canal Therapy
If the root canal of your tooth is infected, it can lead to serious issues ranging from chewing pain to tooth loss. That’s why it’s essential to seek treatment at the earliest sign of any symptoms.
Call our practice at 603-673-5510 or fill out our appointment form below to schedule your consultation with Dr. Ang. We look forward to meeting you.