What You Should Know About Root Canals?
When your tooth is damaged or infected, the root canals need to be treated. These are the spaces inside your teeth where the pulp, blood vessels and nerves live. It is very important that your dentist removes the diseased tissue to prevent further infection and preserve the integrity of your tooth.
Symptoms that You May Need Root Canal Treatment
Tooth pain that doesn’t go away, chronic toothaches, swelling around the tooth and abscesses are all symptoms that indicate you have an infected tooth. If you have any of these symptoms, your Sarasota Root Canal specialist will examine your tooth to identify the source of your discomfort and determine if a root canal is needed to alleviate your pain.
Swelling in the gums and mouth is also a sign of an infected tooth. A root canal can relieve the pressure from the pus that collects in this area, preventing the infection from spreading to other parts of your body.
Infection Can Spread To Your Other Teeth
If your tooth is infected, the bacteria can enter your other teeth through tiny cracks in the enamel or the gum line. This can cause other teeth to become infected or to develop cavities. This can also lead to painful infections, called abscesses, in other areas of your mouth.
Discolored Tooth After a Root Canal
Sometimes, a root canal will result in discoloration of your tooth. This is most likely due to the bacteria that caused the damage to your tooth and will eventually disappear.
Darkening of the tooth may occur after the procedure, especially if the dentist didn’t clean out all of the infected material or used too much antibacterial solution during the treatment. This will usually go away in a few weeks, but call your dentist right away if you notice any signs of this problem such as swelling or redness on the face or tongue.
During a root canal, the dentist will numb the area with local anesthesia or nitrous oxide. Then, a rubber dam will be placed to keep the area dry and free of saliva. An access hole will be drilled into the tooth and a series of root canal files will be placed in the hole, one at a time, removing the decayed tissue, nerves and bacteria from the area.
Your dentist will then fill and seal your tooth. They may use a permanent filling, a temporary filling or an artificial crown. To find a skilled Sarasota Root Canal Specialist, you may visit https://www.thesarasotadentist.net/root-canals/.
A crown is a protective covering, made to look like a natural tooth, that strengthens the tooth and reduces its risk of breaking. The dental crown should be placed within a few days of the root canal to protect your tooth and restore it to its full functionality.
After the root canal, you should avoid chewing or biting on your affected tooth. It may feel strange at first and you should wait until your tooth feels comfortable before chewing on it.
You can resume eating softer foods and drinking liquids after your root canal, but you should avoid hard foods or chewing until the tooth is completely healed. You should also avoid smoking and consuming alcohol, which can slow healing and increase your chance of needing future dental work.