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Are you wondering, “do I need root canal treatment near me?” Well, root canal treatment is a standard procedure that prevents bacterial infection from spreading into your tooth’s root structure. Most people can avoid root canals if they go for regular dental checkups and fill dental cavities at an early stage. However, if you don’t go for regular dental checkups, your dental cavities may go unnoticed, especially because cavities don’t hurt. If you don’t fill the cavity, the bacterial decay spreads into your tooth’s pulp chamber, necessitating a root canal.
But how do you know if you need root canal therapy? Well, the following are some signs that you may need a root canal treatment:
- Extreme dental sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Sharp or stinging pains when you bite or chew on something.
- Pus-filled cysts or pimples on your gums or the roots of your teeth.
- Chipped or cracked teeth.
- Swollen, painful, or bleeding gums.
- Sensitive gums that bleed while brushing.
- Dark gums.
- Deep cavities that you can feel with your tongue.
What is a root canal?
The human teeth are made of several layers, including the outermost enamel, followed by the dentin, and followed by the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber, called the root canal, contains the pulp tissues and nerves. Cavities and dental decay generally start from the enamel and can be treated with simple dental fillings. However, if you don’t treat a cavity early, the dental decay eventually spreads into the pulp chamber. If your pulp tissues are infected, you need a root canal treatment to prevent the bacterial infection from spreading into your dental roots.
A root canal treatment is when the root canal dentist drills an access hole into your affected tooth and physically removes all the infected pulp tissues and nerves. Once the infected components are removed, the dentist seals the access hole and places a dental crown over the affected tooth to protect it from further damage. Root canal therapy is a safe and simple procedure, and you can see it as a slightly more advanced version of a dental filling. The root canal recovery process is also simple, involving no downtime.
What are the reasons for root canal infection?
Root canal infections usually occur because of bacterial activity. Over time, accumulated bacteria may start corroding or decomposing your tooth’s enamel structure. If you don’t go for regular dental checkups, and the infection spreads, the bacteria may eventually reach your root canal. If the bacteria reach the root canal, you suffer from infections and inflammation, necessitating a root canal treatment.
What are the benefits of root canal treatment?
- Painless & Comfortable: Okay, it may be a stretch to call a root canal treatment “comfortable,” but it’s certainly a painless procedure. Most people need root canals if their pulp tissues and nerves are already infected or dead, so your tooth may already be numb. However, the root canal dentist administers local anesthesia anyway, before proceeding with the treatment, so you don’t feel anything.
- Cost-Effective: Root canal procedures are usually affordable and cost-effective, and they’re also covered by dental insurance. Furthermore, getting a root canal protects your tooth from complete decay, so you save money in the long run also. Without root canal therapy, you would eventually have to pay for an emergency tooth extraction, followed by a tooth replacement option.
- Necessary Procedure: Root canals aren’t an elective procedure — they’re necessary. If you don’t get a root canal, the bacterial infection will inevitably spread into your tooth’s root, making you lose a tooth. The infection may also spread into the surrounding teeth or your bloodstream.
- Natural-Looking Results: After the root canal procedure, the dentist will place a dental crown over the weakened tooth. The final result looks completely natural.
What happens during a root canal treatment?
- During your initial consultation, the dentist near me will take dental x-rays to look for signs of decay and cavities.
- The root canal dentist will drill an access hole into your tooth.
- All the infected pulp tissues and nerves will be removed to prevent the infection from spreading.
- The root canal will be cleaned with a water solution or sodium hypochlorite.
- The emergency dentist applies medicine to get rid of the infection.
- You’ll have a follow-up appointment after a week when the dentist will apply a sealer paste or gutta-percha.
- The dentist will take measurements of your teeth to order a dental crown.
- Finally, the dental crown will be attached over your tooth to protect it from further damage.
Can a root canal be done in one sitting?
Yes, a root canal can be done in a single sitting, but that’s not recommended. If the dentist has to do it in one session, they will have to immediately seal the root canal without applying for a disinfectant medicine. Doing so increases your chances of root canal infections when the remaining bacterial infection continues spreading within your tooth. If that happens, you’ll need an emergency dental extraction.
How much does a root canal cost in Texas?
The average cost of a root canal procedure in Texas is around $1,000.
How much does a tooth crown cost?
The cost of a tooth crown depends on the materials used. On average, the cost of composite resin crowns is $328, and the cost of porcelain-fused crowns is $821.
Contact a dentist that specializes in root canals today.
URBN Dental is a reputable dental clinic with a highly-trained and exceptional dental specializing in root canals. Please schedule an appointment with our root canal dentist today for more information.