Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for Root Canal Therapy
Your dentist will recommend root canal therapy if you have severe tooth decay and infection in one or more teeth. Root canal therapy can save your tooth and prevent the need for extraction. At West Georgia Family Dentistry, our dentists have decades of experience performing root canal therapy in Douglasville, GA. We can eliminate infection and decay and preserve your tooth so that you once again have a healthy smile.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a surgical procedure that treats decay and infection of the tooth pulp. The pulp is the inner substance of your tooth. During the procedure, our dentist will drill a small access hole into your tooth and clean it out to remove infected tooth pulp. Undergoing root canal therapy is an alternative to a tooth extraction.
Why Do You Need a Root Canal?
You need a root canal if you have dangerous bacteria, inflammation, decay, or infection in your tooth pulp, which can spread to your bloodstream and damage your organs. Infection of tooth pulp occurs when you have a cavity or decay that goes untreated, or if you have significant damage to your tooth that has allowed dangerous bacteria to enter.
How Is a Root Canal Performed?
Before your procedure, we will take x-rays to assess the extent of your injection and the damage to your tooth. We will inject anesthesia and then drill a small access hole into the crown of the tooth and remove all infected, diseased, or decayed nerves, blood vessels, and tissue inside the tooth pulp. We will then clean and disinfect the chamber of your tooth and fill it with dental material. We will seal the tooth with a temporary filling to protect it. We will then protect the structural integrity of your tooth with a dental crown.
Recovering From a Root Canal
We will give you specific aftercare instructions to ensure you heal properly after a root canal. You may need to take antibiotics or painkillers to relieve pain and prevent infection. You may need to recover at home for 24-48 hours, and you can then resume your regular routine. You will also have to come back into our office to have a permanent dental crown placed.
Are There Alternatives to Root Canal Therapy?
The only alternative to a root canal therapy is tooth extraction.
Learn More About Root Canal Therapy
To learn more about root canal therapy in Douglasville, GA, and get answers to your questions, contact us at West Georgia Family Dentistry. We specialize in general dentistry for the entire family, including dental exams and cleanings, dental x-rays, periodontal therapy, root canal therapy, teeth whitening, and restorative and cosmetic dentistry services. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
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