Root canal treatment (RCT) or endodontic treatment is a procedure that treats the nerve of the tooth, saving a dental piece that might otherwise have to be removed. Sometimes, the center of the tooth can be inflamed, infected, or dead due to damage caused by tooth decay, leaky fillings or damage to teeth because of trauma. Inflammation or infection can cause pain or make the tooth more sensitive to temperature and pressure because the center contains nerve endings.
Some warnings of this damage are pain, sensitivity to hot or cold liquids, headaches, swelling or bleeding. Often, this damage causes no symptoms or very few. Your dentist may spot signs of an infection or damage during a regular check-up at a dental clinic in Palm Beach Gardens.
Is getting a root canal painful?
This procedure consists of drilling into the tooth to remove the dental pulp and infection, disinfecting the site and filling it to prevent bacteria from entering. At the end of the procedure, the tooth looks and feels good because it’s restored to its former appearance and strength by placing a custom crown over the top.
To ensure patient’s comfort, as in many dental treatments, the dentist will numb the tooth with local anesthesia. Therefore, it’s practically pain-free. The actual procedure isn’t the primary cause of pain but the damaged or infected tooth tissue is. Therefore, undergoing root canal therapy in Palm Beach Gardens will provide relief.
Will I feel pain afterward?
It depends on many factors: infection level before treatment, age, gender, and which type of tooth was affected. Once local anesthesia wears off, the treated tooth may feel painful or sensitive. Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can relieve any minor discomfort from this procedure.
After a few days, these symptoms will normally wear off. Moreover, after getting a root canal near you, you should avoid hard, crunchy or chewy foods, keeping your teeth clean by brushing and flossing as normal, and giving up smoking if you have this habit.
However, it’s always important that you have an answer to the question, “where is a dentist near me?”
Having a dentist near you, is convenient, especially in emergency dental situations.
What are the alternatives to a root canal?
The advantages of saving the natural tooth will always be superior to the options presented beneath.
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Extraction: Skipping root canal treatment may lead to extraction of the affected tooth or teeth. This is one of the most popular alternatives to it. However, replacing it with a bridge or implant can lead to more complications.
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Ozone gas: The use of this gas to irrigate the root cavity can exterminate bacteria and may help your dentist to buy you some extra time and save the tooth, averting the urgent need for a root canal. However, there’s the possibility that infection can return at a later stage and root canal treatment would then be necessary.
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Calcium hydroxide: A similar option to the use of ozone gas is to irrigate the canal with a calcium hydroxide solution to dissolve pieces of dead tissue and prevent the growth of bacteria.
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Natural remedies: Embracing a healthier lifestyle won’t ever be a bad decision, but diet won’t be able to restore tooth health or fill a deep dental cavity. Eating high-quality protein, eliminating all processed sugars, and avoiding grain products, among others, may be good for your general oral health but won’t save you from getting a root canal near you if it’s necessary.
To sum it up, the potential benefits that a root canal procedure offers will never be replaced by these alternatives.