The prospect of a
root canal can be unnerving. But if you need one, they can provide immense relief and put your overall dental health back on the right track – hopefully with as little discomfort as possible.
The root cause of the need for a root canal comes out in one of two ways. Severe tooth decay can cause inflammation or infection of pulp deep in the inner part of a tooth. An injury can also trigger the need for a root canal.
You might think you can “tough out” the pain. Don’t. Ignoring your pain or discomfort can lead to worse problems down the road, including a rapidly spreading infection.
Recognizing the signs of a root canal can help you figure out when to call the dentist for root canal services.
3 Signs You Need a Root Canal
Pain in a tooth isn’t necessarily an automatic sign of the need for a root canal. But it raises the possibility. Here are three signs that you might need to contact Supreme Dental or your local dentist to discuss a root canal:
- Sensitivity from drinking or eating something hot or cold (or exposure to cold air, for instance.)
- Dark or gray spots. Sometimes infections spread into the tooth itself and cause discoloration.
- Swelling of the gums. As an infection unfolds, dead or dying pulp can build up and cause painful swelling.
Contact Supreme Dentistry if you have one or more of these root canal symptoms.
What to Expect from a Root Canal
You may have heard stories about the difficulty of sitting for a root canal. Indeed, they aren’t pleasant. But when handled by skilled practitioners such as those on our Supreme Dentistry staff, the impact is far less intense than people realize.
During a root canal, the dentist works on the inner parts of the tooth. Their job is to clear the infected pulp, whether from decay or injury. The dentist also removes the nerve. After clearing out the tooth’s root canal, the dentist then seals it with dental cement. Once that’s complete, the dentist then builds and puts a crown over the affected tooth. After a few days of recovery, your tooth is almost as good as new.
Other Ways of Restoring Teeth
The root canal is the main tool for treating infected or inflamed teeth. The skill of the root canal belongs to a dental specialist known as an endodontist. Root canal services are not the only procedure they use for treating infection or injury.
Another option for people with severe decay or injury is to turn to dental implants. This involves inserting a screw into the gums that serve as a post for holding a porcelain tooth in place.
In both instances, the endodontist’s goal is to ease the pain while working to restore your smile.
Taking Care of Teeth at Supreme Dentistry
A root canal isn’t fun for anybody. But they happen at some point in many lives, and when they do, we want you to turn to Supreme Dentistry. You can rely on us for all forms of dental care. Our Houston dentist provides general and cosmetic dentistry, including preventive dental care and root canal services. We approach each case with sensitivity and understanding as if we were treating our own families. Our goal is to help keep your dental health in top shape over the long term while brightening your smiles. We also provide services such as family dentistry, emergency dental services, and teeth whitening. Trust us to treat your teeth with the greatest amount of care. Call Supreme Dentistry today at
844.966.2333 to schedule an appointment.
