If you’re in Spring Texas and wondering when to get a root canal, Dr. Reagan Smith of Oakhills Dentistry in Spring, TX can help. There are certain symptoms that should alert you to the possibility of needing this procedure. If you are experiencing severe pain, sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, or discoloration of your tooth, these may be signs that you need a root canal. Overall, getting root canal treatment is one of the best ways for preserving natural teeth while avoiding more serious issues down the line like having them pulled out completely.
Table of Contents:
What is a Root Canal?
Root canals are a common dental procedure that helps to restore the function of an infected or damaged tooth. The process involves removing the pulp from inside the tooth and replacing it with a filling material. This helps to prevent further damage to the tooth and keep it healthy.
The pulp is made up of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue which provide nourishment for the teeth. When this becomes infected or damaged due to decay, trauma, or other causes, root canal treatment is necessary in order to save the tooth from being extracted.
During a root canal procedure, Dr. Reagan will use special instruments such as files and drills to access the inner chamber of your tooth where they will remove any infected or damaged tissue. Once all of this has been removed, they will then fill in this space with a rubber-like material called gutta percha which acts as an artificial replacement for your natural pulp. Finally, the doctor may place a crown over your treated tooth in order to protect it from further damage and restore its appearance and strength back to normal levels.
Root canals are often recommended when there is no other way of saving an affected tooth. In addition to helping you maintain good oral health by preventing future problems with your teeth such as abscesses or infections; getting a root canal can also help improve self-confidence since you won’t have missing teeth anymore. It can even reduce pain caused by inflamed nerve endings within affected teeth since these are eliminated during treatment too.
Symptoms of Needing a Root Canal
Pain is the most common symptom of needing a root canal. If you experience pain when biting down, it could be an indication that your tooth’s pulp has become infected or inflamed. This can cause intense discomfort and even throbbing in some cases.
Another sign of needing a root canal is sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. If you feel sharp pains when drinking something hot or cold, this could mean that your nerve endings are exposed due to decay or infection inside the tooth.
Swelling around the affected tooth may also indicate a need for a root canal procedure. The swelling may not always be visible from outside but can often be felt by pressing on the area near the affected tooth with your finger tip.
Discoloration of the affected tooth is another symptom of needing a root canal treatment as well as persistent bad breath caused by bacteria build-up in an infected pulp chamber within the tooth structure itself.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it is important to contact an experienced dentist like Dr Reagan Smith of Oakhills Dentistry in Spring, TX will diagnose what is causing the symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment options such as getting a root canal if necessary.
Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
Since the root canal process involves removing the damaged or infected pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the tooth, and then cleaning and sealing it; this helps to prevent further damage and restore your natural smile.
One of the main benefits of getting a root canal is that it can help save your natural teeth from being extracted. By removing the infected pulp, you’re able to keep your original tooth intact rather than having it pulled out completely. This not only preserves your natural smile but also prevents any potential alignment issues in other areas of your mouth due to missing teeth.
Another benefit of getting a root canal is that it can reduce pain and discomfort caused by an infection or decay in the tooth’s pulp chamber. During this procedure, all bacteria and debris will be removed so there won’t be anything left behind causing pain or irritation when eating or drinking hot/cold beverages. Additionally, once sealed off with a filling material such as gutta-percha (a rubber-like substance), no new bacteria will be able to enter into the area again thus preventing future infections from occurring down the line too.
Getting a root canal also improves oral health overall because it removes any existing infection before they spread throughout other parts of your mouth like gums or jawbone structure which could lead to more serious complications if left untreated for too long period time frame . Furthermore, by restoring normal function back into affected area , patients may find themselves better able eat certain foods without experiencing sensitivity pains anymore either .
Finally, one last benefit worth mentioning about receiving root canal treatment would have to do with aesthetics. After completing the procedure, patients should find their smiles much brighter since their teeth have been restored back to its original form – no discoloration or cavities present anymore. Depending on the type of restoration used during the appointment (i.e crowns), color matching can be done to make sure it looks just like the surrounding teeth did prior to starting the whole process.
Conclusion
Don’t wait to get it checked out!
If you’re in Spring, Texas and experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to contact our Oak Hills Dentistry office for diagnosis and treatment options. Don’t wait – if you think you may need a root canal, don’t hesitate to get checked out as soon as possible. Remember, when it comes to your oral health, prevention is key – so make sure to practice good oral hygiene habits and visit your dentist regularly.
Dr. Reagan Smith provides quality root canal treatments that can help relieve your discomfort and restore your smile. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing the highest level of care so you can feel confident in the treatment plan we recommend for you. Don’t hesitate – call us today to schedule an appointment!
