The root canal treatment may appear scary but many people compare it with experiencing tooth filling. If you are getting root canal treatment Katy, tx, you should know what you are getting yourself in.
What Can I Expect From A Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal is an endodontic treatment that means it is performed inside the tooth. Your tooth is not only what you see from the outside. It is far more than that. Let’s have a look at it. The outer part of your tooth is enamel. Beneath the enamel is a hard part called dentin. Further going down, you get what is called the pulp of the tooth. This is the area where nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues lie and help the root of the tooth to grow.
Now coming back to the root canal, it is a procedure in which the pulp of the affected tooth is removed. When your tooth is infected and the infection progresses to the pulp of the tooth, the infection can enter the bloodstream and cause serious problems. Therefore, it is better to remove the pulp and this is what dentists do in a root canal treatment. Your root canal dentist will remove the pulp, cleanse the root canal and then fills and seals it. After this, your dentist will place a crown to protect the tooth, so that it can restore its function.
How Do I Know If I Need A Root Canal?
A crack in the tooth or a tooth with a cavity, if left untreated can cause the infection to reach the pulp of the tooth. But how you are going to know that your pulp is infected and you need a root canal. If you wonder when to get a root canal, the following are the signs that indicate that you may need a root canal:
- Your gums become tender or swollen
- Pimple-like bumps may appear on the site of pain
- You may experience pain while eating
- Increased sensitivity to cold or hot
- You have cracked or chipped tooth
- Your tooth or gums may appear dark
If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your dentist immediately.
How Long Does A Root Canal Take?
Although, mere thinking about the root canal or looking for a root canal dentist near me gives you chills but root canal treatment is an effective and safe procedure. Due to advancements in technology general dentists that do root canal can perform the whole procedure in one visit because more effective ways are used now.
If your case is minor, it may take about 30 to 60 minutes for a root canal treatment. However, for complex cases, it takes more time, approximately 90 minutes to perform the root canal. How much time your root canal will take depends on many factors, such as anatomy or shapes of your tooth and its roots, and the ability of a person to sit long with mouth open wide.
Any Restrictions After My Root Canal?
In terms of root canal aftercare, your root canal dentist will give you all the instructions that you should religiously follow to speed up the healing time. Following precautions should be taken:
Apart from the discomfort you face after the procedure, one of the basic problems is what to eat after the surgery. You can eat when you feel ready, however, you should avoid hard or crunchy foods and opt for soft foods, because hard or crunchy foods can damage the temporary filling which is placed to protect your tooth before permanent filling.
As the tooth and gums in the treated area are sensitive and need proper care, you should be gentle enough while flossing and brushing. You may experience slight difficulty while flossing, but be careful and don’t force. Contact your dentist if you have difficulty.
Likewise, as the root canal procedure is done, your tooth is unprotected until a crown is placed. Therefore, you should not chew on that side of the mouth so that you don’t put stress on that tooth.
Can You Do A Root Canal After The Crown Has Been Placed?
As the root canal is done when the pulp of your tooth gets infected, sometimes the root of the tooth that already has a crown becomes infected. Thus, the root canal needs to be done on that tooth. Crowns are different from tooth fillings and are used to repair damaged teeth if the affected area is larger.
What Should I Expect After A Root Canal Treatment?
Your dentist root canal specialist numbs the area while performing a root canal. As the anesthesia wears off, you experience some pain or soreness. However, this discomfort fades away. Your dentist will prescribe a painkiller, or over the counter medicine for pain removal. Also, you will be given antibiotics to clean the area from the remaining bacteria. Moreover, you should eat soft foods, and floss and brush as usual, but be gentle.
Will I Need A Check-Up Appointment After My Root Canal?
After the root canal, you still need to make visits to your dentist root canal specialist to make sure that your treatment is on track and there are no problems in the process of healing. After a few weeks of the procedure, you should visit the dentist for a crown. You mustn’t skip any dental visit to make sure the healing process is going smoothly.
How Many Dental Visits Do I Need To Complete My Root Canal Treatment?
It usually takes two to three visits for a root canal treatment. The first appointment will include relieving you from the pain and the root canal procedure will be done in the next two visits. After the root canal, you need to visit for the crown placement, and then it requires follow-ups to ensure you don’t face any difficulty during the healing process.
Conclusion
A root canal is necessary if the infection has progressed to the pulp of your tooth. For affordable and low-cost root canal treatment Katy Tx, you should visit the Nottingham Dental clinic for one of the best dental services. You can contact the dentist by calling (281) 578-0211. To look more about the services visit the website https://www.nottinghamdent.com/.
