If you have a serious dental infection or extensive tooth decay, your dentist, Dr. Olszewski, may recommend that you undergo a root canal near Grand Rapids. Root canal therapy eliminates infection from your tooth, and can often save a tooth and eliminate the need for a dental extraction. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions that patients ask dentists near you about root canals.
Why is a root canal necessary?
A root canal is necessary when tooth decay and infection have infiltrated your dental pulp. Infected dental pulp can cause extreme tooth pain, and without swift intervention, the infection may spread to your bloodstream and affect your organs. Once decay and infection have spread to your dental pulp, the only alternative to root canal therapy is a dental extraction. It is in your best interest to allow an emergency dentist near you to attempt to save the tooth via root canal therapy, as you can avoid the cost of replacing your missing tooth with a tooth implant.
What happens during a root canal procedure?
During the root canal procedure, your dentist will drill a small access hole into your infected tooth. He will use that hole to completely clean out all infected pulp and tissue from your tooth to ensure that the infection is eliminated and will not spread further. He will then put antibiotic gel or cream into your now hollow tooth. To protect the health of the tooth and maintain its structural integrity, he will place a temporary dental crown on your tooth. In a later office visit, when he has determined that the infection is completely gone, he will cover up the access hole and place a permanent dental crown on your tooth.
How painful is a root canal?
Root canal procedures are not any more painful than getting a filling. Your dentist will administer an anesthetic that will ensure that you remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure. Once the procedure is over, you will be in much less pain than you were when you were suffering from a tooth infection.