If your dentist recommends a root canal treatment, it means you have damage or an infection deep in your tooth. This infection can lead to excruciating pain if left untreated. Many patients seek emergency treatment because of this pain.
In some cases, your dentist will find an emerging root infection during your routine exam, but too often, patients wake with severe tooth pain and need treatment as soon as possible.
A root canal relieves this pain and restores your tooth to health.
What Happens During a Root Canal in Metairie?
If you have been diagnosed with a root infection, your dentist numbs the area around your tooth and then gently extracts the infected pulp. The area is sometimes packed with a healing agent. The final step is a temporary filling to keep the area clean and promote recovery.
Following this treatment, you may notice swelling and mild pain, but this is minor compared to the discomfort associated with an untreated root infection.
At a follow-up appointment, your dentist places a filling or dental crown over the tooth. A dental crown is cap-shaped and colored to match your teeth. We recommend this course if the infection was weakened the tooth structure because the crown protects the tooth from further issues, including fractures.
Lowering Your Risks
Brushing and flossing twice daily and visiting your dentist for routine teeth cleanings and exams are the best ways to lower your risks for root infections, cavities, and periodontal disease.
You should also contact your dentist if you notice jaw pain, a toothache, or a blister on your gum. These are all signs of a root infection, and the pain can worsen quickly.
Do You Have a Toothache?
If you have a toothache or notice oral health changes, contact our dental office as soon as possible. It is our goal to relieve your discomfort and restore your oral health.