Root Canal Therapy – West Monroe, LA
Relieve Toothache Pain & Renew Oral Health
Your teeth contain several layers: the outer protective enamel, a secondary layer of sensitive dentin, and an inner pulp that contains components commonly referred to as the “nerve” of the tooth. Each pulp chamber branches off, forming canals that lead toward the tooth root tip. These infamous root canals provide a means for the tooth to absorb what it needs from the blood and get rid of toxins or other unnecessary materials via the blood stream.
A deep cavity, traumatic injury, or tooth fracture can make the canal susceptible to bacterial infection, which can kill the pulp, stimulate increased blood flow, and create pressure within the tooth. This can cause severe tooth pain and may initiate bone degeneration, tooth loss, and even more acute pain.
If you aren’t sure if you need root canal therapy completed or you have severe tooth pain and don’t know where to turn, please give Dr. Scott a call right away!
Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
Chances are if you need root canal therapy, you’re experiencing some or all of the symptoms below:
- Severe tooth pain, especially when chewing or applying pressure to your tooth
- Severe toothache that’s lasted more than a day
- Swollen, red, or tender gums
- Pimple-like bumps on your gum tissue near your tooth
- Prolonged sensitivity, particularly to hot and cold temperatures
If you see Dr. Scott in the earliest stages of this condition, the tooth may be saved with root canal therapy in our West Monroe, LA dental office.
The Root Canal Process
With today's advanced analgesics and technology, root canal therapy is much easier and comfortable to complete than you may have thought previously. In fact, the entire process can be so comfortable that many patients doze off. Oftentimes, root canal therapy can be completed in a single appointment.
We simply clean out the diseased canal, fill it with a biologically inert substance, seal it from further infection using a dental crown, and you're on your way. While some patients experience post-procedural soreness or slight tissue inflammation, these are controllable with over-the-counter analgesics. Follow-up care involves receiving a permanent crown, at-home hygiene, and regular dental visits for cleanings and checkups.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
There are many benefits to choosing root canal therapy to save your tooth. For example:
- Preserve Your Tooth: By repairing your tooth, you can avoid having to get it extracted. This helps you save time, money, and the complications that come with tooth loss.
- Stop Tooth Pain and Clear Away Bacteria: Root canal therapy is designed to clean your tooth’s root of any bacteria, which triggered your infection in the first place. This infection is what’s causing your pain, and root canal therapy is the key to getting relief.
- Easy, Virtually Painless Process: Root canal therapy has always had a bad reputation, but the reality is local anesthetic ensures the procedure itself carries very little (if any) discomfort at all. In fact, many patients equate it to receiving a dental filling. In comparison, tooth extractions are much less comfortable and take more time to heal.