Patients often feel anxious about root canals because they assume the procedure is highly invasive or surgical. However, root canals are simple in-office procedures, only slightly more invasive than fillings. They’re often your last chance to preserve a severely decayed or damaged tooth, so you must never delay or avoid root canals. At Energy Dental, we use cutting-edge technologies and techniques to provide safe and comfortable root canals and help you maintain optimal oral health.
What are root canals?
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that deals with infections and problems related to the tooth pulp, the soft tissues at the center of the tooth. You may need a root canal if you have a severe cavity or dental crack that’s exposed the pulp tissues to bacterial infection. The dentist drills an access hole into the root canal, removes all the infected pulp tissues, cleans the pulp chamber, and secures the tooth with a crown. If you avoid root canals, the bacterial infection may eventually kill the tooth, necessitating a dental extraction.
When do you need root canals?
Tooth Infection
Tooth infections are the most common reason for root canals. If you neglect proper oral hygiene and don’t visit the dentist regularly, you might not realize you have dental cavities and bacterial decay. The dental cavity will continue spreading until it reaches the pulp tissues, necessitating a root canal. If you identify cavities early, they can be treated with fillings.
Dental Trauma
You may need root canals if you’ve experienced serious dental trauma because of accidents, sporting injuries, blows to the face, and falls. In these situations, you may experience a severe dental fracture that extends deep into the pulp chamber. As such, you’ll need a root canal to remove all the damaged and infected pulp tissues and protect the tooth.
Tooth Grinding
If you suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding, the enamel on your teeth may eventually wear away, leading to dental cracks or exposed pulp tissues. This can leave the pulp tissues vulnerable to bacterial infections, so you need a root canal to prevent that from happening. Long-term teeth grinding can also lead to excessive sensitivity.
Signs you may need a root canal:
- Severe toothaches while chewing
- Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Hot and cold sensitivity persists after the stimulus is gone
- Cyst formations on the gums
- Discolored or darkened teeth
- Gum swelling
- Bleeding gums
- Large dental cavities
- Cracked teeth
The benefits of root canal therapy:
- Painless and comfortable procedure
- Concludes within 30 minutes
- Simple in-office procedure
- Saves the tooth from complete decay
- Prevents tooth loss
Suitable candidates for root canals:
You might be a suitable candidate for root canals if you’re experiencing severe dental infections or dental trauma. Your dentist will carefully examine your teeth and take numerous x-rays to determine if your pulp tissues are inflamed or if they’re exposed to the risk of bacterial infections. Our dentists only recommend root canals if there are no other means of saving your teeth.
The root canal process at Energy Dental
Your root canal is performed as a simple, in-office procedure under local anesthesia with sedation, so you don’t have to worry about pain or anxiety. We also use the CEREC technology to prepare same-day dental crowns, allowing you to complete the entire procedure in one session rather than two or three sessions.
During your root canal, the dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the area around the affected tooth. The root canal dentist will place a rubber dam around the tooth to prevent saliva interference. The dentist will drill an access hole into the root canal to empty its contents, removing all infected pulp tissues, nerves, and blood vessels.
Once the pulp chamber is hollowed out, the dentist will clean it with a sodium hypochlorite solution to remove all the debris. The hollow pulp chamber will be sealed with a special compound called gutta-percha, which will restore the tooth’s strength. The dentist will also take impressions of your teeth to prepare a dental crown.
We use CEREC technology to prepare same-day porcelain crowns, which usually takes around 20 minutes. The dentist will fit the crown on your tooth to restore optimal structural integrity and prevent damages.
Why Choose
Energy Dental?
Energy Dental is a state-of-the-art dental clinic specializing in the latest and most effective dental procedures. We carefully examine your teeth and consider all options before recommending root canals. Furthermore, we use advanced technologies, such as CEREC, to produce same-day crowns and complete your procedure in one session. Please schedule an appointment to explore your root canal options in Houston, TX.
