When a tooth becomes abscessed or causes severe pain, a root canal is often the best treatment method. Root canals will save teeth that would otherwise need to be removed.
Does a Root Canal Hurt?
We have a lot of patients that fear dental procedures. If you need a root canal, the good news is, the treatment is designed to help relieve the pain you are already experiencing. The tooth itself will have a local anesthetic applied to numb the area so you do not feel any pain. After the procedure, you will normally feel better but may experience slight discomfort.
What Does a Root Canal Entail?
When you visit our office, we will take x-rays of the tooth to determine if it needs a root canal. Our goal is to eliminate pain and help you feel better when you leave then when you come into our office. Once we know the tooth needs a root canal, we will then numb the tooth with a local anesthetic. After the medication works, Dr. Jenson will then open the tooth and taking out the nerve to stop the toothache. The tooth will be cleaned and the canals of the tooth will be cleaned and disinfected. A medication is then added to the tooth and a medicated dressing is applied.
A root canal procedure normally takes about 90 minutes, but can be longer if there are problems with the roots and nerves within the tooth. If you are in our office for an emergency root canal, we may start the procedure to remove the nerve and get you out of pain, and have you come back in a few weeks to finish the procedure when we have scheduled an adequate amount of time.
Dental Care After a Root Canal
For the first 24 hours, we recommend soft foods and to avoid chewing on the surface area of the tooth. Normally, the tooth will feel better after a day or two. You will then proceed with routine dental care to maintain the health of your gums and prevent decay.
We do recommend the root canaled tooth have a dental crown placed over it to protect the tooth. A root canaled tooth is considered “dead” and it will start to go grayish in appearance and is vulnerable to decay and breakage. Contact Jenson Dental in Brigham City for more information about root canals, abscessed teeth, and other dental concerns.