Root Canal Therapy – Tyler, TX
Quick Relief for
Aching Teeth
If one of your teeth is really throbbing and painful right now, Dr. Perez can provide the immediate relief you need with root canal therapy in Tyler, TX. This procedure does have a dubious reputation, but it’s actually one of the best ways to stop the worst toothaches and save severely damaged teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Rather than sitting and suffering, give Times Square Family Dental a call today to get the treatment you need—you’ll wish you contacted us sooner afterward!
Why Choose Times Square Family Dental
for Root Canal Therapy?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Sedation Dentistry Guarantees a Comfortable Appointment
- Dentist with 20+ Years of Experience
Signs That You Might Need a Root Canal
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, then you may require root canal therapy:
- A terrible toothache that seems to be getting worse
- Extreme dental sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Temperature sensitivity that lasts for 30 seconds or more
- Pain when biting down on a specific tooth
- Red, inflamed gums near a tooth
- A pimple-like sore on the gums near a tooth
Why You Might Need a Root Canal
Inside every one of your teeth is a collection of soft tissue called the dental pulp, which in addition to numerous blood vessels, also contains the nerve of your tooth. Whether due to a cavity or injury that has cracked the enamel, if this pulp is exposed to bacteria, it can become infected. This can cause the tissue to swell, creating pressure inside the tooth that is usually the source of a very bad toothache. In the past, the only solution was to remove teeth with this type of problem, but thankfully, they can now be preserved using root canal therapy.
How a Root Canal Therapy Actually Works
After giving you a quick exam and determining that yes, one of your teeth has a pulp infection, Dr. Perez will perform root canal therapy using the following basic steps:
- He’ll numb the tooth and the immediate area around it
- A small hole will be created in the enamel
- The diseased pulp will be removed
- The interior of the tooth will be cleaned, sanitized, and filled
At a follow-up appointment, Dr. Perez may choose to further rebuild the tooth using a dental crown.
Does a Root Canal Hurt?
Thanks to modern-day methods involving local anesthetic and sedation dentistry, our root canal patients report feeling next to nothing during the procedure. Dr. Perez takes patient comfort very seriously, so he does whatever he can to make the treatment as painless as possible. Most patients compare the experience to getting a small filling placed, which is to say not uncomfortable at all! The pain relief is usually immediate, and afterward, the treated tooth can be trusted to function normally for the rest of a person’s life.
Root Canal FAQs
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
While root canals can save your tooth from needing to be extracted, we’d much rather prevent your tooth from ever reaching the point where it’s necessary. To prevent the need for a root canal in the future, you’ll typically just need to take the same steps that you normally would in order to maintain a healthy mouth. Namely, remember to brush and floss every day, and visit your dentist in Tyler for six-month checkups. Often, Dr. Perez can detect early signs of tooth decay and treat it long before it worsens to the point where root canal therapy is required.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Root Canal Therapy?
The specific recovery timeline can vary based on a patient’s oral health status, but in general, most patients are able to return to work or school the day after their procedure. You can expect your mouth to be sore for the next few days, so be sure to take any prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications as directed. Keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid strenuous physical exercise for at least three days following your root canal; otherwise, it could delay the body’s healing process.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Many patients believe they can save themselves the trouble of going through a dental procedure by just taking a round of oral antibiotics to treat their infected tooth. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Antibiotics work by traveling through the bloodstream and targeting the harmful bacteria they encounter. However, the pulp inside of the teeth is not accessible via the bloodstream. Therefore, oral antibiotics are ineffective at treating tooth infections. That’s why we’ll need to directly treat the area with root canal therapy.
How Long Can I Postpone Getting a Root Canal?
We understand that if you’re nervous about getting a root canal, or if your tooth isn’t bothering you, you might wish to put off scheduling the procedure. However, doing so could have severely dangerous consequences in terms of your oral and even your overall health. Without a root canal, the infection inside of the tooth could get worse to the point where extraction is necessary. You’d end up needing to spend more time and money replacing the tooth instead. In rare cases, the tooth infection could reach the gums, where it could access the bloodstream and wreak havoc on other parts of the body. The easiest way to reduce such risks is to get your root canal taken care of soon after we recommend it.