Hi, my name is Dr. Olga, here at Always Beautiful Smile. We get a lot of questions about root canals, what they are, why they're needed, and I'm here to answer the most popular ones.
What is a root canal treatment?
So let's talk about what is a root canal treatment. What is the procedure itself? Root canal or endodontics literally means the inside of the tooth. It's a procedure where we go inside the tooth and clean out the nerve, the blood supply, basically everything keeping this tooth alive. It all gets removed, cleaned out, and sealed. So that is, in a short gist, what a root canal procedure is.
What are some signs that you may need a root canal?
There's a couple. One is you have a big throbbing toothache. You have a toothache that feels like it's got a heartbeat, and hasn't let you sleep in the last day or two. That is your nerve screaming and yelling bloody murder that it needs help. So that is a procedure. That is usually when you must come in and get a root canal procedure done, assuming that the tooth is fixable. So, assuming that it's fixable, we'll do the root canal procedure because it's the nerve that's screaming and yelling at you. So it's the nerve that then has to go, and then the root canal procedure will clean everything out. That's it. No more pain. That's the solution.
When is it too late to do a root canal?
Let's talk about when it's too late to do a root canal. Root canals are done primarily for one of two reasons. Either there's a very large cavity that's very close to the nerve or at the nerve, and the patient has a toothache, and they need some help. So we'll go inside and clean out the nerve, the blood supply, and everything that's the source of the pain. That's one reason why the root canal is done. Another reason the root canal is done is when the nerve is dead. When the nerve inside the tooth has died, it now creates a highway from the outside, meaning the inside of your mouth, to the inside, to the bone that's holding your tooth in your mouth. And when there's an infection that forms there, then you need a root canal in order to stop the source. Depending on the reason why you need the root canal, either the tooth is alive, a big cavity, the nerve is upset, you need the root canal, or the nerve is dead, there's an infection, you need the root canal to stop the infection.
Now, sometimes both of those things can get so bad that we can't fix it. The infection can be so large that even if we do a root canal, it's not going to fix the problem. The tooth can be so broken down that even if we do the root canal, there's just no tooth left for us to put a cap or a crown on top of it. Sometimes the tooth can be broken such that we can't fix it. Or sometimes you may have an additional problem called periodontal disease or gum disease, in which the bone around the tooth that holds the tooth in your mouth basically recedes away. The tooth gets wiggly and very loose. And if the tooth is wiggly and loose, yes, we can do a root canal, but it still won't help save the tooth and keep it in your head. So, as long as it's early enough and the tooth isn't so bad and all hope is not lost, we're absolutely going to try and do the root canal. But it only makes sense to do the root canal if we can save the whole tooth. So if the tooth isn't fixable, I'm sorry, we have to take it out.
Do you need a crown after your tooth has had a root canal done?
Almost always, the answer is yes. And the reason for that is because once a root canal gets done, the tooth gets more brittle. It gets more likely to break. It takes just one unfortunate bite on, you know, an olive pit, a peach pit, a little something, you know, a little piece of chicken bone or something for that tooth to snap in half and then need an extraction. So in order to avoid that, we almost always put crowns on the teeth that have had root canal stuff done. A crown is 360° coverage of the tooth. It acts as a protective, you know, cap that sits on top so that you can eat your food, live your life, and not have a problem with this tooth down the line. That's why we need crowns after teeth that have had root canal stuff.
What type of anesthesia is used for root canal treatment?
Usually just local. We need to do an injection. We get the area numb, and it's usually just the little local area to where we're working. We don't need to numb the whole face. You know, if we're talking about the upper right and the back, then we numb the upper right and the back. If we're talking about the middle and the front, then we numb the middle and the front. That's all that has to get done. We need to numb the tooth. We come in, clean everything up. You get a temporary filling that day. We get to go home. Easy peasy.
Will your tooth be sensitive after root canal?
It shouldn't be. At least not in the traditional sense of the word. Any kind of cold sensitivity, hot sensitivity that comes from the nerve. So, when we do the root canal and we clean out the nerve, well, that takes out the source of the sensitivity. So you should not be sensitive on this tooth. However, after a root canal gets done, it's very common to have a little bit of soreness, a little bit of discomfort in the area, particularly to biting. That's very, very normal and expected, and it should pass, if you have it, it'll pass in a day or two. We're not talking about anything major. We're not talking about, oh my god, a toothache that you can't sleep at night. No, but you know, if you were to eat some food and chew on that side, you might be aware that, oh you know, it's a little sore, something's been done. It's a fairly major procedure for the tooth. The tooth is going to be sore for a couple of days. Take a motion if you need it. You'll be fine in a few days.
Root canal treatment versus dental implants
So let's talk about root canal treatment versus dental implants. We do root canals when the tooth is very fixable. We have a large cavity, and may have a small infection, but we do the root canal, usually followed up with a crown in order to save the tooth. That's why we do this. There's nothing better than your own teeth. The other option to take care of the problem of a broken tooth or an inflamed nerve or an infection is to take the tooth out. Once you take the tooth out, you have to replace this. You have to replace the space. And usually, that's done with a dental implant. Now, is that an option? Yes. Do we recommend it? Usually not right off the bat. Cuz if the tooth is fixable, we'd rather fix it. And if you can get another 10 years out of the tooth, wonderful. You know, sometimes more, sometimes less. But I would rather you hold on to your tooth for as long as you can. And then if something happens, then we can always, you know, get around to the extraction or the implant down the line. But I would much rather try and fix the tooth if possible. And that's what we're here for.
Root Canal
Welcome to Always Beautiful Smile, your premier dental service provider for Root Canal Brooklyn in Brooklyn, NY. Our experienced team of dental professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional root canal treatments to alleviate dental pain and preserve your natural teeth.
What is Root Canal
Root Canal Brooklyn, also known as endodontic treatment, is a specialized dental procedure performed to remove infected or damaged pulp from the inside of a tooth. Our skilled professionals utilize advanced techniques and modern technology to ensure precise and effective root canal treatments.
Pain Relief
Root canal treatments are designed to alleviate dental pain caused by infected or damaged tooth pulp, providing prompt and long-lasting relief.
Preserving Natural Teeth
By removing the infection and saving the tooth, root canal treatments allow you to retain your natural teeth and avoid extraction.
Restoring Dental Health
Root canals eliminate the source of infection, promoting the healing of surrounding tissues and preventing further oral health complications.
At Always Beautiful Smile, we understand the importance of root canal treatments in preserving your natural teeth and relieving dental pain. Our team of professionals is committed to delivering exceptional Root Canal Brooklyn services to improve your oral health and overall well-being.
How We Can Help
We offer personalized root canal treatments tailored to your specific dental needs. Our experienced dentists will carefully evaluate your condition and determine the most appropriate approach to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
- Skilled Endodontists
- State-of-the-Art Technology
- Same-Day Emergency Care
- Comprehensive Aftercare
- Long-Term Dental Health
Schedule your appointment today. Call us now! (440) 659-1455