Root Canal in Yuma AZ
Most people dread hearing “you need a root canal.” They have a reputation for being painful, lengthy, and unpleasant. But that’s no longer the case!
Advances in dental technology and a skilled dentist make root canal therapy a much more comfortable process. Yuma, AZ dentist Dr. Sam Carroll DMD has the tools, training, and skill to quickly cure the pain of an abscessed tooth with a root canal.
Why Are Root Canals Necessary?
Bacteria can infect a tooth, eating away the enamel and causing decay. When this happens, it’s called a cavity or dental caries. Most holes can be treated with a filling. However, if the rot goes untreated or you have a health condition that weakens the structure of your tooth, the bacteria can make their way deeper into the tooth, all the way to the soft pulp that surrounds the nerves. Once the paste becomes infected, the tooth usually abscesses.
Abscessed teeth can be very painful, and the only options for treating an abscess are extraction of the infected tooth or root canal therapy. We’d rather keep your teeth in your mouth whenever we can, so root canal therapy is the preferred treatment method for most abscesses.
What Is a Root Canal?
During root canal therapy, Dr. Carroll will remove the decayed part of your tooth and open up a path to the pulp. The infected flesh must remove with a series of small files. These files will get all of the infected tissue out and scrub the sides of the root canals clean to prevent a recurrence of infection.
Once the dying nerves and surrounding pulp removed, the area will be disinfected and then filled with a compound called gutta percha. This rubbery substance seals off the now-clean root canals to keep further bacteria out. Most root canals also require a crown restoration, due to extensive loss of your natural tooth material to decay and the procedure.
If you need a crown, we will take an impression of your mouth and cover the new root canal with a temporary crown while the permanent crown is crafted. A post and buildup may also be necessary to support your crown adequately. It will usually do during the same visit before we place the temporary crown.
What to Expect After a Root Canal
There is usually very little pain after root canal therapy. The intense pain of the abscess is relieved by removing the infected nerve, after all! The area may be tender for a few days, but most people find this is easily treated with over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen. If you experience extreme pain or swelling or the pain does not subside after two to three days, call our office for a follow-up visit.
Having a root canal shouldn’t affect your ability to chew much, once the tooth restored. The nerves of your tooth aren’t essential once the tooth is finished growing, and you should experience no change in sensation or function once the area is healed, except possible reduced sensitivity to heat and cold.
Don’t be Afraid to Cure Your Toothache With a Root Canal!
If you are suffering from a toothache and have been avoiding the doctor for fear of a root canal, there’s no reason to delay any longer. Call today to schedule your appointment at 928-504-4531 or Schedule an Appointment
