Root Canal Therapy – Big Pine Key, FL
Comfortable Treatment That Saves Teeth
What do you think of when you hear “root canal”? If you imagine excruciating pain, you’re not alone. Many associate this treatment with the severe toothache that often precedes it, giving root canal therapy a bad reputation. However, it is extremely beneficial, especially because the alternative is extracting the tooth altogether. The procedure itself causes about the same amount of discomfort as having a cavity filled because our Red Pine Key dental team makes sure that you’re completely comfortable during the entire process as well. If you have any questions about this tooth-saving treatment, read on or schedule an appointment !
Why Choose Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of the Keys for Root Canal Therapy?
- Sedation Dentistry Available
- Experienced Dentists Who Genuinely Care
- Custom, High-Quality Dental Crowns
Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
Although tooth pain is a common symptom of a problem requiring a root canal, you do not have to experience pain in order to need root canal therapy. If you have had advanced tooth decay or damage that has penetrated to the pulp or center of the tooth, you may benefit from root canal therapy. This procedure involves removing the pulp to prevent future infection and save the healthy tooth structure. After the inner chamber has been thoroughly cleaned and sealed, a dental crown is placed on top to protect the tooth and restore its strength, function, and beauty.
The Root Canal Process
The root canal treatment process is broken down into several steps. The first is your initial appointment, which is when we will assess the severity of the dental damage and determine if root canal therapy is the best way to restore your oral health. If it is, then we will create a custom treatment plan designed to restore the look and function of your tooth!
Before we begin the process of treating your tooth, we will thoroughly numb the area. If you’re especially nervous or you’ve struggled with dental-related anxiety in the past, then sedation dentistry is also available. Once you’re comfortable and at ease in the treatment chair, our emergency dentist in Big Pine Key will carefully access the inner chambers of your tooth. From there, they will remove the compromised pulp (which is the source of your discomfort). Then, they will sanitize the area, fill the open space with a synthetic gutta-percha material, and place a temporary crown over the tooth to protect it.
Over the next few days, it’s normal to feel some soreness. Once your permanent dental crown is ready, you’ll return to our office so we can secure it in place. At this point, the entire root canal process is complete, and your tooth is restored!
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
Since the reputation surrounding root canal therapy largely centers on outdated, incorrect misconceptions, it’s not surprising that many patients aren’t aware of all the benefits of this treatment. With this in mind, read on to learn three noteworthy ones:
- Root canal therapy is virtually pain-free – Not only will the area around your tooth be thoroughly numbed, but you can opt for sedation dentistry to minimize any nerves or stress while you’re in the treatment chair.
- Root canal therapy has a high success rate – Fortunately, the large majority of patients who undergo this treatment retain their treated tooth for several decades and, in many cases, the rest of their lives!
- Root canal therapy delivers lifelike results – After the tooth is treated, it’s protected with a natural-looking restoration that doesn’t call any unwanted attention to your smile – it will blend in seamlessly!
Root Canal FAQs
Are Root Canals Painful?
While you may have heard horror stories from older people who had to endure root canals, advancements in anesthetics have made the treatment far more comfortable. Today, with the help of potent general anesthesia, a root canal performed by Dr. Cobb or Dr. Mazor at Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of the Keys is comparable to getting a filling. The majority of the discomfort from a modern root canal actually comes from the tooth itself, not the procedure. During your treatment, your mouth will be numbed and care will be taken to ensure you don’t feel any discomfort. After your procedure, over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen can be used to manage any lingering pain.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
Most root canals can be done in a single visit. However, on the rare occasion that an infection is severe enough, we may need to place antibacterial medicine in the tooth on one visit and perform the procedure on another. As for the length of the procedure itself, a normal root canal can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to complete. Front teeth have fewer roots and are easier to reach than rear teeth, so they take less time.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Unfortunately, no. While it’s true that antibiotics will treat bacterial infections, these medicines travel through the bloodstream and won’t reach the pulp of your tooth. If Dr. Cobb or Dr. Mazor conclude that you have infected teeth, the only method to restore them is with a root canal procedure. The only other option is extraction, which isn’t preferable. We want to try to save every natural tooth you have if we can, and a root canal can help you get out of pain while also preserving your tooth’s structure.
Do I Still Need a Root Canal if My Toothache Went Away?
Many patients call our office requesting an appointment for a painful tooth only to cancel within a few days because the pain went away. We always ask them to come in anyway! Teeth can’t heal themselves, so if your pain suddenly disappears, it means that the infection might have progressed too deeply and destroyed the pain receptors. So, the end of pain isn’t always the end of the issue. In fact, if you don’t get a root canal, the infection could spread through adjacent teeth and gums. This can cause more infected teeth or risk deadly dental abscesses.