Root Canal Therapy – Odessa, TX

When you experience a toothache, you may be tempted to wait to get it treated—just in case it goes away on its own. Well, the truth is the longer you wait to have a dentist look at it, the worse the problem will progress because oral issues don’t get better with time. You may need to have a root canal in order to save your ailing tooth. Otherwise, your tooth may require extraction altogether! To avoid this extreme treatment, our experts here at Boyles General Dentistry can help you retain as much of your natural smile as possible and restore you to full oral health again through tooth-saving root canal therapy.

Why Would I Need a Root Canal?

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be in pain in order to need a root canal. In fact, our dentists will strongly recommend a root canal when either damage from injury or decay impacts the pulp or center of the tooth. This sensitive tissue houses the tooth’s nerves and can become infected if exposed to harmful bacteria. As a result, this procedure keeps the infection from spreading to your other teeth and the jaw bone, protecting your smile in the long run.

How Is a Root Canal Performed?

Once one of our dentists have determined that a root canal is needed to save your tooth, we will follow the process detailed below:

• We will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area, alleviating your potential pain.
• Then, we will remove the affected pulp and seal this inner chamber from future infection.
• Depending on the damage done to the tooth, we will need to place either a tooth-colored filling or a temporary dental crown.
• Once your custom dental crown is ready, you’ll return to our dental office so that we can bond it to the remaining tooth structure and restore the tooth to full strength, function, and appearance.

What Is Recovery after a Root Canal Like?

As with most dental work, there is a chance that you could feel some mild discomfort following a root canal, but most of the time, it is mild enough to be handled using acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Overall, this procedure relieves pain, so you should feel back to normal soon after the procedure. If this discomfort persists beyond two or three days, feel free to give our office a call.

Do You Need a Root Canal?

If you’ve been told that you have a cavity or if you’ve suffered from a dental injury, don’t delay treatment. By addressing the problem as early as possible, we will be able to use more conservative, that is less invasive, measures to resolve the problem and save your smile. If you think you may need a root canal, contact us at Boyles General Dentistry and schedule an appointment today!