A root canal can save an infected tooth from extraction. This treatment is a proven solution that leaves your mouth healthy and strong. It also restores the natural appearance of your smile.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure that removes an infection from the interior of a tooth. The process is straightforward and time-tested.
- Dull the tooth with a local anesthetic.
- Remove the infected pulp or nerve.
- Replace the area with a filler that seals off the root from bacteria.
- Place a filling or crown to protect the tooth from damage and reinfection.
How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?
The cost of a root canal procedure ranges between $620 – $1500 on average. Ultimately, the cost depends on three main factors, including the location of the tooth, the complexity of the case, and your dental insurance plan. However, a root canal is often less expensive than an extraction and dental implant.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
A root canal typically takes 30 to 90 minutes on average.
How Do You Know If You Need a Root Canal?
A dentist can assess your case, but there are several signs you may need a root canal:
- Persistent tooth pain
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Severe discoloration of the tooth or gums
- Swollen gums
- Chipped, cracked teeth
What Is the Average Root Canal Recovery Time?
Root canal recovery time typically lasts one to two weeks but varies by person. Four factors that influence recovery time are the severity of the infection, the tooth location, the type of procedure, and your personal healing response.
Are Root Canals Painful?
A root canal is relatively painless. People often associate the procedure with pain, but the pain is the result of infection. The procedure relieves the pain by removing and treating the infected tooth.
You may feel sore after root canal therapy but will recover as you heal.
How to Avoid a Root Canal
The best way to avoid a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene and prevent an infection. Here are 10 tips to help you avoid infections that require root canal therapy:
- Brush twice a day.
- Floss once a day.
- Brush your tongue.
- Drink more water.
- Limit acidic drinks and foods.
- Avoid hard or sticky foods.
- Wear a mouth guard at night and during sports or martial arts.
- Understand your personal dental needs, such as treating weak teeth.
- Go to your dentist for regular dental exams.
- Have your dentist check tooth pain immediately.
Relief That Lets You Smile Again
Do you feel tooth sensitivity when you drink something hot or cold? Is there a sharp pain when you bite into food? Do you have a constant ache in your tooth?
These are common signs that there is an infection in a tooth. A severe crack or fracture in a tooth allows bacteria to infect the pulp and root. Tooth decay can also reach the interior of the tooth, causing an abscess. In the worst cases, it requires an extraction.
Without treatment, the tooth pain never ends. If you have noticeable systems, you need to contact your dentist as soon as possible. Kerst & Caskey Family Dentistry has a simple, quick solution.
Our dentists are trained in endodontic treatment, including root canals in Shreveport, LA. A root canal treats and removes the infection in your tooth. It reduces inflammation and prevents the spread of infection.
There’s a stigma around this procedure, but it provides more relief than pain. When we provide a root canal, it eliminates tooth pain and saves your natural tooth.
Signs You Need a Root Canal
If you have an infected root canal, it’s easy to know something is wrong. The infection often causes severe pain. These symptoms often accompany it:
- Intense aches that don’t go away
- Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks and food
- Abscesses on the gums
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes
How Long Does the Pain From a Root Canal Last?
There’s a common misconception that a root canal is painful. In reality, the procedure is no more painful than a filling. Typically, dentists use a local anesthetic to reduce pain and discomfort.
As the area heals, it is normal to feel some discomfort or sensitivity. Your gums may also swell or become irritated during the procedure, causing some mild pain. Once the tooth heals, the pain goes away.
After the procedure, your dentist will give you special care instructions for your tooth as well.
How Long Does Root Canal Therapy Last?
When a professional performs a root canal, it should last a lifetime. The success rate of root canals is around 95%. It’s one of the most effective treatments in dentistry. It can also prevent the need for restorative dentures or dental implants.
Is a Root Canal Better Than an Extraction?
Typically, we prefer to perform a root canal over an extraction. This method lets you restore and protect your natural truth. However, there are cases where a root canal is not possible. In these situations, we may perform an extraction and replace the tooth.
Save Your Smile With Timely Treatment
Today, root canal therapy is as simple as placing a crown. At Kerst & Caskey Family Dentistry, we strive to make our patients as comfortable as possible. Don’t hesitate to get treatment because you fear the pain.
Our dentists can treat your infection and save you from the pain. Let us restore your oral health with a timely treatment that is safe and effective.