End Pain and Save Your Tooth with Root Canal Treatment
Do you have an infected tooth causing pain? Don’t worry! Root canal treatment in Austin, Texas, can resolve the discomfort without extracting the tooth. Gently executed at Blunn Creek Family Dentistry, root canals are painless, and patients experience comfort during and after the procedure.
Don’t live another day in pain. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kunjumary “Mary” Kolathu for painless root canal treatment.( *** I refer patients to root canal specialists ) Don’t let that toothache turn into tooth loss!
Do I need a root canal?
Your tooth is a living structure with nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue. When harmful bacteria infiltrate your tooth’s innermost part (the pulp), they inflame the delicate tissues, causing several unwelcome symptoms.
These include:
- Persistent toothaches
- Sharp pain, mainly when pressure is applied
- Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
- Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Swollen gums
- A pimple-like swelling on the gums
A root canal is one of the most common restorative procedures, with more than 15 million performed yearly. Modern technology has made root canals much easier than ever. Advanced imaging enables us to visualize even complex root canals, resulting in a more successful, predictable procedure. Powerful anesthetics and gentle instrumentation ensure your treatment is as comfortable as possible.
What can I expect during treatment?
Many patients fear root canals until they experience our gentle, comfortable care. We have streamlined the root canal procedure with your comfort and satisfaction in mind.
- Examination: Dr. Mary will use dental X-rays to determine the extent of decay and structural anatomy of your canals. She’ll then devise a customized treatment plan to ensure the best possible outcomes.
- Numbing and tooth preparation: The dentist will anesthetize the gums to ensure a painless experience. Then, your tooth will be isolated with a dental dam, and a small access hole will be created.
- Cleaning: The dentist will remove the infected tissues, then thoroughly clean and sanitize the area to kill harmful bacteria. We may irrigate the area with antibiotics to clear up the infection.
- Sealing: Once we clean and shape the canals, we’ll fill them up with a safe, biocompatible material (gutta-percha) to seal out future bacterial invasions.
- Restoration: The dentist will seal the access hole before covering your tooth with a customized, natural-looking crown. After restoration, you can chew comfortably and smile confidently, just like you did before the infection!
- Post-op care after a root canal hastens healing and prevents complications. We’ll prescribe medications and recommend a diet and oral hygiene routine to set you on a path to recovery within days.
What are the benefits of root canal treatment?
Below are the benefits of a root canal in Austin, Texas.
- Relieve pain: Living with an infected tooth is far more painful than getting a root canal. Most of our patients experience significant relief almost immediately after treatment!
- Improved health: Your tooth infection is localized but can spread to adjacent structures over time. A root canal removes the source of the infection to preserve your health.
- Improved chewing: You no longer have to chew with pain and can enjoy a wider selection of foods.
- Saves your tooth: A root canal removes only the infected tissues, leaving your tooth intact. Preserving your tooth saves you from costly tooth replacements.
Root Canal Therapy Consultation FAQs
Why does root canal treatment have a negative reputation?
Many patients mistakenly think that root canal therapy will hurt. The misperception that RCT is painful lingers because the conditions that it treats can cause intense pain. The reality is RCT relieves that pain and does not cause it. Additionally, some patients’ perceptions may be based on outdated approaches to root canal treatment. Today’s root canal therapy is performed with modern anesthetics and advanced technologies, which support safe, gentle, and efficient treatment.
What are alternatives to root canal therapy?
Dr. Mary performs trusted root canal treatment consultations. During your visit, she examines your troublesome tooth and surrounding tissues to determine the extent of damage. If the innermost tissue is still viable, Dr. Mary may recommend restorations such as a filling or dental crown. When it appears that decay has reached the core of your tooth, she may refer you to a trusted root canal specialist. These specialists, or endodontists, have advanced training in caring for teeth with damage to the inner pulp tissue. They may recommend either nonsurgical root canal therapy or surgical procedures like root-end resection to preserve your tooth.
What if my tooth can’t be saved with endodontic treatment?
While RCT and other endodontic procedures have a high success rate, some teeth may never heal following treatment. Sometimes, the tooth is also “too far gone” to be treated successfully with root canal therapy. In these cases, Dr. Mary may discuss options to replace the tooth. After the irreversibly damaged tooth is removed or extracted, Dr. Mary may recommend filling the space with a dental bridge or implant and crown.
Will I need a crown after my root canal treatment?
Typically, patients who undergo root canal therapy will return to our office so they can receive a dental crown. The crown fits on top of the treated tooth. Dental treatment can weaken the tooth. By placing a durable crown, Dr. Mary can strengthen the tooth. This prevents it from sustaining future damage such as fractures. Also, it helps to ensure that the tooth doesn’t become reinfected. After months of chewing and function, the filling can erode. When this happens, bacteria may seep into the tooth, and you would be back at square one – experiencing familiar symptoms and damage that was previously resolved with root canal treatment. Due to this risk, delays in getting crowns placed are often to blame for RCT failures.
How can I avoid root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is needed when damage affects the inner pulp. This damage typically results from progressive tooth decay, advanced gum disease, untreated fractures, old or worn dental work, and physical injuries. You can minimize your risk of developing the type of damage that requires RCT by:
- Practicing consistently good brushing and flossing at home.
- Limiting plaque-causing sugars, acids, and starches in your diet.
- Wearing custom-fitted oral appliances (nightguards and mouthguards) to prevent fractures and physical injuries).
- Maintaining professional cleanings and exams at our office and at intervals as recommended by Dr. Mary.
Also, never ignore pain. It is a sign that something is amiss and requires attention. Our team accommodates many urgent matters same day, and we also encourage patients to contact us before the pain gets so bad that it turns into an emergency situation.
Ready to meet your Austin root canal dentist?
Do you have a painful tooth? Don't wait—relief is just a call away! Root canal treatment at Blunn Creek Family Dentistry is a safe and effective procedure that eliminates pain and saves your natural smile. Contact us at (512) 788-9282 to schedule your consultation.
