How Does a Patient Know If They Need Root Canal Therapy?
- Posted on: Nov 15 2019
At Gentle Family Dentistry and Implant Center, patients in the communities of Allentown and Bethlehem, PA can obtain quality care. With a wide range of treatments available for children and adults, most patients can avoid receiving a referral to another area specialist for their dental needs. One treatment that is performed in our office and may be required to save a tooth is root canal therapy.
What is root canal therapy?
Drs. Riyaz K. Gangji, Efraim Ramirez Lugo, and Sandip Ladani describe root canal therapy, or “endodontic therapy,” as a tooth-saving procedure that removes damaged or infected dental pulp from within a tooth to alleviate pain that can develop in this area. This procedure is the last method available to save a natural adult tooth before permanent extraction is required.
When do I need root canal therapy?
In most cases, patients who visit our practice and are candidates for root canal therapy are individuals who have experienced damage or infection to the tooth and are dealing with a severe toothache. This is because the dental pulp inside the tooth includes nerves and blood supply, making a simple infection painful. Root canal therapy may also be needed if patients have let a cavity go deep into the tooth. This is why early diagnosis and treatment of cavities is highly recommended. Patients will visit the dental practice of an evaluation, and our team of professionals may suggest moving forward with endodontic treatment to save the tooth. The only other alternative is permanent tooth removal, and this should be avoided whenever possible.
Is root canal therapy painful?
While many patients have heard that root canals are painful, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Instead, the procedure is performed with proper sedation and local anesthetics to ensure comfort for the patient before, during, and after their procedure. While some discomfort may be present after the treatment for a day or two, this discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medications as the tooth heals.
Are you ready to undergo endodontic therapy?
Connect with the Gentle Family Dentistry and Implant Center in Bethlehem and Allentown, PA today by calling (610) 861-0190. Our team is ready and willing to assist with a variety of dental care needs and treatments under one roof!
Posted in: Root Canal