Root Canals
Have you been experiencing ongoing pain in one or more of your teeth? If it’s not going away — or getting more severe — a root canal might bring you relief. This procedure may be necessary to treat an infection that’s causing pain and discomfort before it spreads.
At State Street Smiles, our dentists provide root canals in Hackensack, NJ, to treat tooth infections. This procedure allows you to keep a damaged or decayed tooth instead of having it extracted or pulled.
But what happens during this kind of endodontic treatment? And is it painful? We’ll go over what you need to know about root canals, including why and how they’re done and what to expect!
What Is a Root Canal?
Your tooth contains tiny canals in the inner tissue or pulp. Bacteria can get into these and cause painful infections. A root canal treatment removes infected material from the pulp in affected teeth, relieving soreness and stopping bacteria from spreading.
Root canals involve cleaning out these canals and taking steps to prevent additional infections. Why do dentists recommend this kind of care? It helps you keep your tooth — rather than having it taken out or extracted.
When Do You Need a Root Canal?
Having tooth pain doesn’t automatically mean you need this procedure. But it can be a sign that you have an infection. If it’s reached your inner tooth, our dentist might recommend having endodontic treatment done. These procedures are done to treat infections that can occur due to tooth decay or damage.
Some signs that you might need this type of treatment include:
- Tooth pain that gets worse or won’t go away
- Swelling in your jaw and/or gums
- Dark tooth discolorations
- Increased sensitivity or painful pressure when biting or chewing
You won’t know for sure until our dental team examines the affected tooth. We may recommend a root canal if you have a tooth infection in the pulp.
Benefits of Root Canals
You might not be happy to hear that you need this procedure. But keep in mind that it does offer important advantages. It stops infections in their tracks, so they can’t reach other teeth or other parts of your body. This helps lower your risk of serious complications that can happen if bacteria get into your bloodstream.
Without treatment, you might also end up with damage to your jawbone. A root canal helps prevent this from happening, allowing you to heal and avoid ongoing discomfort.
With this kind of care, you also get to keep the infected tooth. That means you don’t have to worry about having it extracted and replaced with an artificial tooth. This helps you maintain a beautiful smile!
What to Expect From a Root Canal
How does this kind of procedure go? We start with giving you anesthesia that numbs the area, so there’s no pain or discomfort while we work on your tooth. After that, the steps for a root canal generally include:
- Drilling a small hole in your tooth to get to the interior portion
- Using instruments to carefully remove infected tissue from inside your tooth
- Cleaning and disinfecting the inner areas
- Filling the empty inner portion, including the canals, with dental material
- Sealing your tooth to stop bacteria from entering it again
- Putting a dental crown on to protect against infections and help you bite without discomfort
Note that the entire process may take more than one visit. The cleaning and sealing happen during the first visit. But you might need to come back in to have a permanent dental crown placed on the treated tooth.
What Happens After?
The recovery process takes roughly a week. You might feel sore when the effects of anesthesia wear off. But this shouldn’t last longer than a week. We’ll give you instructions on how to care for your tooth while it heals, such as having soft foods at first and not chewing with the tooth until you get your permanent crown.
FAQS on Root Canals
The following are some of the questions that we’re asked the most about this type of procedure. Our team is also happy to answer any other questions or concerns you might have!
Do root canals hurt?
This endodontic treatment has a reputation for being painful — but you won’t feel a thing during it. Anesthesia keeps the area numb. As it starts wearing off, you might experience some soreness. This pain is just temporary, though, and should be mild. We might recommend taking OTC pain relievers to ease any discomfort you have afterward.
Are there any risks when getting a root canal?
Yes, as with other treatments and procedures, there are risks to be aware of. Root canals may not be successful, causing you to seek retreatment. This might happen if the tooth is too damaged or decayed for this kind of care. But our dental team evaluates the affected tooth beforehand to determine the most suitable treatment.
What if I can’t get one?
You have other options for treating infections if you aren’t a good candidate for this procedure. If your tooth has severe damage or decay, we might recommend a tooth extraction. While you may not want to lose a tooth, it might be necessary to stop the infection. We can discuss tooth replacements with you if needed, such as bridges or dental implants.
Are root canals safe?
Yes! These endodontic treatments are generally safe for most people. Our dental team will evaluate your oral health and go over your medical history to ensure this procedure is right for you. Complications from it are rare.
How successful are they?
They have high success rates, especially when you have experienced dentists performing them. At State Street Smiles, we’ve done this procedure many times over the years. Root canals can fail in some cases. But we take precautions to minimize this risk. In most cases, this treatment goes well and doesn’t need to be done again.
Can I avoid needing one?
The key to this is taking good care of your teeth to help prevent infections. That means doing all of the following:
- Seeing our dental team regularly for exams and cleanings
- Brushing at least twice per day
- Flossing every day
- Avoiding chewing on non-food items or hard foods that could crack your teeth
Find Help for Tooth Infections in Hackensack Today!
Are you looking for treatment for a toothache? State Street Smiles is here to help! We can examine your tooth and recommend the most suitable care. Our services include root canals in Hackensack, NJ, along with many other kinds of dental care.
