Root Canal Treatment – New Bedford, MA
Eliminate the Infection, Save Your Tooth!
When a tooth develops an infection deep inside the dental pulp (the innermost layer of a tooth), it usually causes quite a bit of pain because this is where the delicate nerve is located. Rather than just extracting the tooth like dentists of the past, we can fully repair it with root canal treatment. So, if you have a toothache that just won’t go away, don’t hesitate to give us a call today. A root canal might be exactly what you need!
Why Choose Clear Coast Dental for Root Canal Treatment?
- Patient Comfort Is Priority #1
- Able To Save Extremely Damaged Teeth From Extraction
- Highly Skilled & Experienced Team
Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?
One of the most common warning signs of a badly damaged tooth that we see at our office is a severe toothache. That said, there are several abnormal symptoms we recommend keeping an eye out for, including:
- Extreme tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Discoloring teeth.
- Swelling and tenderness in the gums.
- A pimple-like bump on the gums near the affected tooth.
If you notice any of these, be sure to contact our office immediately. We’ll fit you in that same day so we can ease your pain and tackle the problem before it causes additional damage.
The Root Canal Process
Are you anxious about getting a root canal in New Bedford? When you don’t know many details about the procedure, it can leave a lot up to the imagination, making you worry even more. Rest assured, our team at Clear Coast Dental will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during your procedure, starting with numbing your tooth.
Once you’re ready to begin, we will access the inner chambers of your tooth to remove the pulp. Then, we will sanitize the area, fill it with a synthetic gutta-percha material, and seal it off to protect the tooth from harm moving forward. We will also place a temporary crown over it until your permanent one is ready to be cemented in place.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
Thanks to the latest tools, advanced techniques, and effective numbing agents, this often-feared procedure is now reliable, safe, and virtually painless. But that’s not the only reason root canals are good news. They also have a high success rate, they can save your tooth from an extraction, and the cost is often partially covered by dental insurance providers. For all of these reasons, patients are often amazed by how smooth and stress-free the treatment process is!
Root Canal FAQs
Do I Need Sedation Dentistry for a Root Canal?
The great news about root canals is that, although they have a bad reputation for being painful, they’re actually not. At Clear Coast Dental, we go out of our way to ensure that our patients experience virtually no pain during their procedure. However, if you’re suffering from anxiety before your appointment, you may benefit from sedation dentistry techniques to ease your worries. That way, you can get a decent night of rest the day before your procedure and arrive at our office feeling ready to tackle your oral health problem.
Is a Root Canal My Only Option?
When tooth infections are left untreated, they will only get worse. A severe toothache that landed you in our office in the first place will eventually spread to other teeth, and can even cause your tooth to die, resulting in the need for an extraction if a root canal isn’t performed.
When you take care of the problem with a root canal, you can preserve your natural tooth, restore your oral health, and prevent any additional damage from occurring. However, when you wait until you need a tooth extraction, you’ll need to replace your missing tooth with a restoration, which means that you can expect multiple additional visits to our office. Not to mention, a tooth extraction will require additional recovery time and can impact the alignment and health of your surrounding teeth if you don’t fill the gap in your smile.
What Is the Recovery Process for Root Canal Treatment?
Most of our patients report slight tenderness and sensitivity for a few days following their procedure, but it’s typically nothing that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. For the most part, this discomfort only lasts for about three days as your tooth heals and your mouth adjusts.
To help with any swelling, you can place an ice pack on your cheek or jaw for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. It’s also important to continue brushing and flossing daily, just be sure to be gentle until your discomfort subsides.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
When you prioritize your oral health, your risk of dental damage decreases significantly. So, if you want to avoid needing a root canal (or needing another root canal), start with the basics: brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. Then, focus on other healthy habits you can add to your routine, like cutting back on added sugar and wearing a mouthguard when you’re active.
Important reminder: Your biannual visits ensure we can catch and treat dental trouble in the early stages, so make sure to prioritize them!
