Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal
Decay reaching the pulp of a tooth can cause infection and a number of painful symptoms which, if not addressed, can result in tooth loss.
Root canal therapy completely removes the infected tooth pulp to provide relief from pain, preserve tooth structure, and save your smile.
Learn how the team of caring dentists at Imagecare Dental Group in Plano, TX, can provide relief from dental pain with a root canal.
Imagecare Dental Group Root Canal Treatment in Plano, TX
If you are suffering from dental pain that requires a root canal, we offer gentle state-of-the-art treatment at our dentistry practice. Our dentists use the most advanced root canal treatment tools available. We also go above and beyond to disinfect and clean the root canal prior to sealing the affected tooth with a crown. With a host of sedation options, you can rest assured your root canal therapy will be virtually pain-free. A root canal at our Plano, TX, dentist office can provide you with relief and restore the health of your smile.
Root Canal Treatment Is Virtually Painless
Prompt treatment of an infected tooth provides a number of benefits to patients who visit our Plano, TX, dentist office suffering from the painful symptoms of a root canal infection.
Modern dentistry techniques and local anesthesia allows our dentists to provide root canal therapy to patients with no more discomfort than filling a cavity.
A root canal removes the infected pulp (inner tissue including blood vessels) to preserve the exterior of the tooth, eliminating the need for extraction and keeping your natural smile intact.
Left untreated, the bacteria that causes the infection can affect your surrounding teeth and gum tissue. This can lead to jawbone deterioration and even tooth loss.
Relieve Pain and Restore Your Tooth
There are several signs that a patient may need a root canal, but oftentimes, decay and infection go unnoticed. During an exam, your dentist can check for signs of infection and promptly restore your oral health with a root canal. Don’t be nervous about the procedure; Imagecare Dental Group will make sure you are comfortable throughout treatment.
Symptoms That May Require a Root Canal
How do you know when tooth decay has gone from a simple cavity to an infection that requires pulp removal with a root canal? While sometimes an infected tooth presents no obvious symptoms, an infected root canal is often accompanied by signs such as:
- Toothache
- Sudden extreme sensitivity to cold and heat
- Swollen gums and face
- Swollen lymph nodes
- A sudden but persistent bad taste in your mouth
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our Plano, TX, dentistry practice immediately for prompt root canal therapy. We offer 24/7 emergency dental services so you don’t have to spend days waiting for an appointment while suffering from a tooth infection. The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chance to save the affected tooth.
Determining If a Tooth Can Be Saved
If decay is left untreated, the only alternative is tooth extraction. Unfortunately, a lost tooth can lead to long-term oral and overall health issues, including bone atrophy at the extraction site. Root canal therapy can save your tooth and prevent the need for costly tooth replacements.
In order for root canal therapy to successfully save a tooth, the outer tissue must be able to support a crown. If the infected pulp has resulted in decay severe enough to compromise the structure of the tooth, extraction is the only option. This underscores the importance of seeking prompt treatment when experiencing painful symptoms.
Third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, are incredibly difficult to take care of (even for patients with rigorous dental hygiene) due to their hard-to-reach location. They often erupt in ways that are harmful to the jaw and surrounding teeth. If your wisdom teeth become infected, our dentists will recommend extraction over root canal treatment.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late Save Your Tooth With Root Canal Treatment
If you think you may need a root canal, the compassionate team of dental professionals at Imagecare Dental Group in Plano, TX, offers prompt, gentle treatment to provide relief from painful symptoms. With the help of state-of-the-art dental tools and the latest innovative techniques, we can ensure your root canal therapy will be virtually pain-free.
We understand that patients may be hesitant to visit the dentist due to past experiences that have left a less than positive impression, but our team strives to provide the best care with a gentle touch. We also offer sedation options to enable even the most nervous patients to relax during treatment.
To learn more about how we can help or to schedule a consultation, contact our Plano, TX, dentist office online or by calling 972-618-5000.
The Root Canal Process
Using our advanced CBCT machine, one of our dentists will begin your root canal by thoroughly evaluating your tooth with the help of digital imaging. This enables us to make an accurate diagnosis so you know you are receiving the best care possible.
Before beginning, our dentist will apply local anesthesia to the area to ensure you experience no pain during the root canal treatment. Our Plano, TX, dentistry can apply several choices of sedation techniques for patients who have dental anxiety and require extra care.
An access point is created in the infected tooth so that pulp can be properly removed. With the information provided by our digital imaging software, our dentist can determine the approach to your specific root canal.
Using the most advanced rotary endodontic files, the pulp is removed from the interior chambers of the tooth and root canals to clear all of the infected tissue.
Once the pulp is removed, multiple cleaning and disinfecting solutions coupled with an ultrasonic instrument remove as much dead tissue, bacteria, and contaminated material as possible to sterilize the interior of the tooth.
The now hollow structure is filled with a rubber-like substance developed specifically for root canals, called gutta-percha.
Once your root canal is completed, the treated tooth is sealed shut.
Depending on the severity of your root canal, a dental crown may need to be placed in order to preserve the integrity of your smile.
Our Sedation Dentistry Options
Root Canal Recovery
Even though tooth canal therapy is a significant treatment, most patients fully recover within a week. Contact our dentists if the tooth doesn’t seem to be healing or continues to cause discomfort after a week.
- The numbing effects of local anesthesia will last a few hours after the procedure, so patients should try to avoid chewing until the effects wear off.
- Patients may experience some slight discomfort following the procedure, which can be managed with non-prescription medications.
- For the first few days, you should eat soft foods and avoid chewing with the treated tooth until you receive the permanent crown.
- Patients can practice normal hygiene habits like brushing and flossing, and they can continue using mouthwash to prevent bacteria build-up in the mouth.
Root Canal Financing
Healthcare bills—like an infected tooth—can be painful. To alleviate the pain of both, we offer flexible financing options for root canal therapy and our other dental treatments. Our staff can help you find out how much your insurance will cover and walk you through root canal treatment costs and payment options.
Insurance
Insurance typically covers part of the cost of treatment since root canal therapy is a medical necessity, but the coverage depends on your specific plan.
CareCredit
CareCredit® is a lending company that exclusively helps patients fund their healthcare needs and break up the cost into affordable monthly payments.
Lending Club
For even more financing options, patients can get a monthly payment plan from Lending Club® to help cover the cost of root canal therapy.