What is the root canal?
The root canal is a pulp-filled cavity in the root of your tooth. Endodontics is the area of dentistry specifically studying and treating this pulp of the tooth. Our team at EndodonticsLA is highly-trained with years of experience in this field and in root canal therapy in particular. We pride ourselves in treating root canals and traumatic injuries to the teeth with the highest quality materials.
When is root canal treatment necessary?
Root canal infections will occur when the pulp has deep decay, when the tooth has undergone multiple treatments, or when the tooth has gone through physical trauma. Patients experiencing tooth pain when chewing, prolonged sensitivity in the tooth, discoloration on the tooth, or swelling or sensitive gums may have developed a root canal infection.
When is a root canal treatment considered an emergency?
Patients experiencing very severe pain from a root canal infection, or patients who have had part of their tooth break into the pulp, may need emergency root canal treatment. At EndodonticsLA, we will be happy to accommodate patients in need of urgent care in these situations. If you’re experiencing severe pain or trauma to the teeth, call our office. We’ll listen to your case and walk you through the best course of treatment to get you out of pain as soon as possible.
There are two types of root canal treatment:
Root Canal Therapy:
For root canal therapy treatment, our endodontist enters the root canal through the crown of the tooth to remove the infected pulp and clean the inside.
Root Canal Surgery:
If the non-surgical root canal treatment isn’t sufficient, it may mean that the infection is located further down at the tip of the root. If this is the case, root canal surgery—a very minor procedure—treats the infection by entering directly at the root tip through a small incision.
Are emergency root canal treatments painful?
Typically, patients at EndodonticsLA report little to no pain associated with root canal treatments. Because emergency root canal treatments are often done as a result of severe pain, though, our specialists are able to prescribe an appropriate amount of sedation, anesthesia, and medication to get you out of pain and restore your oral health as quickly as possible when you visit our office.
How long does it take to heal from root canal treatment?
Most patients are able to return to their everyday activities the next day after root canal treatment. You should expect the tissue around the treated area will feel sensitive, depending on the severity of your infection, and generally, pain is mild during recovery. If you come into EndodonticsLA for root canal treatment, we’ll walk you through every step of the way to ensure all your questions and concerns are addressed before, during, and after treatment through recovery.