What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy involves removing infected material inside of a tooth and sealing it to prevent further infection. Root canal therapy can eliminate the need for tooth extraction and preserve the function and structure of the tooth.
What Is Tooth Infection & What Causes It?
Tooth infection occurs when the living material inside of a tooth, called dental pulp, becomes contaminated with bacteria.
- Advanced tooth decay
- Deep cavities
- Damaged fillings
- Chips and cracks in the tooth
- Gum disease
- Toothaches
- Swelling of the gums
- Sores on the gums
- Tooth and/or gums darkening
- Bitter taste
- Fever-like symptoms
- Bad breath
- Swollen neck glands
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
Root Canal Therapy
Consultation
Before root canal therapy can take place, you’ll attend a consultation with Dr. Loiseau. He’ll use the best equipment available to examine your mouth and detect the infection.
Once infection has been identified and Dr. Loiseau has approved you as a candidate for root canal therapy, we’ll schedule your procedure.
Preparation
Before the procedure begins, we’ll apply a local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. For patients with dental anxiety, we have sedation options available. Dr. Loiseau will discuss your sedation preferences at your consultation.
Once we’ve ensured that you don’t feel any pain, we’ll seal off the area with a rubber dam to prevent saliva and moisture from entering the tooth.
Surgery
An opening will be made at the top of the tooth so your dental professional can access the pulp. The infected dental pulp is then removed and the canal of the tooth is cleaned out.
The tooth is then filled, preventing infection by sealing off the opening in the tooth. To further seal the tooth and restore its full function, a crown will be placed over the filling.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Legacy Dental, we prioritize your comfort and safety. Rest assured that before any painful procedure, we’ll apply a safe anesthetic.
Lingering soreness in the surgical area after a root canal is common and should fade after a few days. If you experience pain in the area lasting more than a week, contact our office in Moses Lake, WA as soon as possible by calling (509) 765-1748. We’ll do our best to resolve any issues you may be having.
After root canal therapy, you should wait until the anesthetic has worn off before you start eating again. Failure to wait for the anesthetic to wear off can result in unknowingly biting down too hard. You might accidentally damage your cheeks, lips, tongue, or your protective crown.
We recommend eating soft foods after root canal therapy such as:
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Jell-O
- Soft fruit
- Cooked vegetables
- Soup
- Smoothies
- Scrambled eggs
- Tofu
Avoid crunchy, chewy, spicy, or hard foods for at least one week after surgery. If reintroduced to your diet too soon, these items can:
- Damage your crown
- Pull out your filling
- Increase bleeding
- Cause increased sensitivity and pain in your tooth
We also recommend avoiding sugary, hot, or alcoholic beverages at this time. If you have any questions or concerns about how to care for teeth after a root canal, don’t hesitate to call our Moses Lake office at (509) 765-1748.
You may not experience symptoms and still require a root canal. An infected tooth that doesn’t cause pain likely means that all the nerves in the tooth have died.
If there is infection present, a root canal is necessary. Without a root canal, infection can spread beyond the tooth into other parts of your body like your gums and jawbone.
Failure to undergo a root canal when you need one increases your chances for tooth loss and other serious complications, such as:
- Infection
- Jawbone damage
- Stroke
- Sepsis
- Heart Disease
Root Canal Therapy at Legacy Dental Could Save Your Teeth
The longer you wait to get a root canal, the more damage is being done to your mouth. You can greatly increase your chances of saving your teeth and preserving your overall oral health by attending a consultation with Dr. Loiseau and undergoing root canal therapy if necessary.
To schedule a consultation, call our office in Moses Lake, WA by dialing (509) 765-1748 or filling out the contact form below. Dr. Loiseau has the tools to help keep your smile healthy and whole!