Key Reasons to Get A Root Canal and What to Expect 

Anytime a dentist can save your tooth, that’s the preferred thing to do. Many people think that simply pulling a tooth is the best solution to get rid of the pain. However, once you’re missing a tooth, you’ll need a restoration to replace it. This may be a dental implant, dentures, or even a bridge down the road. 

Recognizing the warning signs of tooth infection can help keep you from needing more complicated and costly procedures in the future. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to call Dr. Clark at Chalfont Dental Care as soon as possible.

• Persistent pain when chewing your food.
• Extreme sensitivity to cold or hot foods and beverages.
• Tenderness or swelling in the gums.
• The tooth is dark or discolored.
• A pimple-like bump forms on the gums near the painful tooth.
• A chipped or cracked tooth that’s painful.

If you suspect an abscessed tooth, this is a health emergency, and you need to seek urgent dental care or go to the emergency room. A thorough examination by a dentist like Dr. Clark will let you know if you need a root canal to save your tooth. 

Root canals have an undeserved bad reputation. The fact is, modern root canals are no more painful than most other dental procedures. A root canal is designed to give you pain relief, not cause more pain. Dr. Clark uses local anesthesia to numb the area, and you can also opt for nitrous oxide gas to help you relax. 

If your tooth’s inner pulp is infected, Dr. Clark will access the inside of the tooth to remove the infected tissue. She’ll clean and disinfect it before sealing it up to protect it. Once your root is clean, Dr. Clark will seal the tooth to prevent it from becoming infected again. In some cases, the tooth is capped with a porcelain crown to protect and strengthen it.