When is a root canal needed?
Root canals are needed when decay and bacteria have spread within a tooth for too long without treatment. After a while, the infection will make its way into the pulp within your tooth which contains nerves that can cause a lot of pain if infected. Since the infection is happening within the tooth, you won’t necessarily see the damage, but instead will feel it or notice other signs such as bleeding, swelling, and bad breath.
If left untreated, you may lose a tooth or risk the infection spreading further into the body, which can result in more extensive treatment than a root canal would require.
What happens during a root canal?
After conducting a thorough examination and determining a root canal is the best treatment option, we will schedule your procedure. During the procedure we will remove the infected pulp which is no longer needed for the tooth to function properly. Next, we will clean the inside of the tooth and flush out any remaining pulp or bacteria. Afterward, we will fill and seal your tooth and place either a crown or filling onto your tooth to restore it. The treatment and number of visits can vary depending on the severity of your infection.
If you think you may have an infected tooth or are experiencing pain and other symptoms, schedule an appointment immediately for a diagnosis. Treatments are quicker, easier, and often more cost-effective if caught early on.
For more information on root canals or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office today at (760) 931-0144.
Your Carlsbad Dentist
Dental Oasis of Carlsbad is conveniently located at 2814 Van Allen Way in Suite #205. Dental Oasis of Carlsbad is conveniently located off College Boulevard and Faraday Avenue with plenty of off-street parking. Call us at (760) 931-0144 or request an appointment online. We can’t wait to meet you!