June 12, 2019
Authored by: Dr. Merril Rowe
Root canals are not painful. With modern advancements in both local anesthetic and sedation options like nitrous oxide, a root canal should be no more uncomfortable than a standard filling.
At Highpoint Dental Care, we offer free nitrous oxide to patients who feel nervous about root canal therapy. If you believe this service would be useful, we would be happy to discuss details during your time in our care.
We are endlessly committed to patient comfort and satisfaction. We will take every care to make your experience in our office pleasant, relaxing, and rewarding.
Why is a Root Canal Done?
Pulp lies within a chamber underneath the enamel and dentin of your teeth. Comprised of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves, tooth pulp is essential for proper tooth development. However, after a tooth has grown, it can survive without the pulp.
When infection occurs in the pulp chamber, there are really only two options:
- Extract the tooth and replace it with an implant
- Clean the pulp chamber and protect the natural tooth with a dental crown
The latter, which is root canal treatment, is done to prevent tooth loss through extraction or infection.
How do You Know if a Root Canal is Needed?
Symptoms of a tooth infection include:
- A pimple or pustule on the gums
- Swelling or tenderness in the gums
- Increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Sudden or acute pain when chewing
- Tooth discoloration
Dr. Rowe and Dr. Baltz utilize advanced technologies to diagnose tooth infection – often before symptoms occur – enabling us to provide swift and effective treatment before serious issues develop.
Having root canal therapy makes sense. Not only does it prevent the extraction of the natural tooth, but it also helps preserve:
- Bite strength and tension
- Proper tooth alignment
- Consistent wear between teeth
- A natural appearance
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of tooth infection, call us right away to schedule a consultation. While not always a dental emergency, a tooth infection can result in pain and dental pain should be brought to the attention of our Aurora, Colorado family dentists as soon as possible.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
Each root canal procedure is different, but most can be completed within 60 to 90 minutes. During the procedure, tiny instruments are used to remove the infected pulp, debris, and bacteria from inside of the pulp chamber. If the infection is severe, an antibiotic may be injected into the tooth, but this is not always necessary.
Once all parts of treatment have been completed, the small access hole in the tooth is filled before a custom-fabricated dental crown is placed over it. This crown will look and feel like your natural tooth and be shaped and sized to provide the same function as the tooth it is protecting. The dental crowns provided by Dr. Baltz and Dr. Rowe are expertly crafted for lifelike and long-lasting results.
If you have questions about root canal therapy or if you suspect you are dealing with an infected tooth, call Highpoint Dental Care at 303-617-9100 to schedule a consultation. Located in Aurora, we welcome patients from Centennial, Parker, Green Valley Ranch, and surrounding Metro Denver communities.
Category: General Dentistry, Root Canal Treatment
