Are you experiencing persistent tooth pain that it is making it hard for you to do anything throughout the day, or even giving you trouble sleeping at night?
In some cases, this can be due to inflamed or infected pulp in the root of your tooth, and a dentist can help by performing a root canal.
The purpose of a root canal is to relieve pain, and save your tooth from having to be pulled. There are two areas of the tooth, the crown (visible gum line) and the root, which extends below the gum. Inside your teeth, there is a hollow area called a canal, with tunnels that run down the root. These spaces contain nerves and soft tissue called pulp. If this pulp becomes infected, often due to a cavity, it needs to be removed.
A root canal, repairs and saves a tooth that is decayed or infected. During the root canal procedure, the tooth’s nerve and pulp are removed, cleaned out, and sealed. Infected teeth and other oral health problems are a serious issue, and should not be ignored. If ignored, other complications, such as infected gums and painful abscesses can form.
In the past, dentists were taught to do the root canal, place a temporary crown and send the patient away. The patient would then return three to seven days later to finally seal the canals and rebuild the tooth for the crown.
Depending on the patient and the severity of their case, with today’s evolving technology, dentists have been taught to perform a root canal in only one visit. A single-visit root canal involves the procedure, followed by the implantation of a crown or filling. Innovative new materials and technology help to make this procedure much faster and pain free than it has been historically thought to be, so fears about a root canal are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
For fast, effective root canal treatment in Minneapolis or St. Paul, Minnesota, call Hagerman Dental Care at (651) 646-2392 or use our online form to request an appointment.