If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperature, pain or tenderness when biting or chewing, and swelling, you may need root canal therapy. Before we perform any procedure, we like to make sure we know what’s causing your pain to best determine the most effective plan of action.
Our teeth are made up of three parts. The outermost layer is called enamel. It is the hardest substance in the human body and maintains the integrity of our teeth. The next layer is dentin. This bone creates the structure of the tooth. Inside the dentin is a substance called “pulp.” It’s made up of nerves and blood vessels, and keeps our teeth alive.
When the pulp becomes inflamed due to tooth decay or trauma, it will be painful, and often leads to tooth loss when left untreated. This inflammation must be removed with a root canal or it can cause more damage to the surrounding tissue and lead to infection/abscess. Removing infected pulp and replacing it with a stable material enables us to not only alleviate pain but also to restore the integrity of the tooth. This is a long-lasting solution that enables you to keep your natural tooth.
No! It’s common to learn you need a root canal from your general dentist but you can go to any endodontist you choose. We see patients with no referrals every day and will be happy to treat your dental pain with the most comfortable root canal you’ll ever experience.
Premedications are antibiotics that are recommended for patients with heart and other medical conditions. And YES, you need to take it One Hour before your procedure and even your consultation. This is a necessary precaution to prevent possible infection. Please take your premeds! Being on antibiotics for 2-3 days already does not count as taking premedication. The dosage for regular antibiotics are often too low to be considered an effective premedication. For example, a patient taking 500mg of Amoxicillin 4 times a day for 3 days still has to take 2000mg of Amoxicillin 1 hour before their consultation and/or procedure. If you still have more questions, please call our office.