Root Canals
At Blue Sky Dental, we know that many people fear root canals, and a lot of it's related to an undeserved bad reputation based on a myth. Even those who’ve never had the procedure dread the thought because they believe it will be uncomfortable.
The good news is that all the hype is just that, and a root canal is nothing to fear. It’s just another treatment that dentists perform when a patient has an infected or abscessed tooth. When our Albuquerque dentist recommends a root canal, it's because he needs to remove the infected dental pulp and relieve the painful toothache that typically goes along with a tooth infection.
Reasons Our Dentist Recommends a Root Canal
Deep inside your tooth is a chamber filled with dental pulp that contains the tissue, blood supply, and nerves that keep your tooth healthy and alive.
This area is very well protected, but if a tooth is cracked, has a deep cavity, or suffered a hard knock in an accident, bacteria enters this region and causes an infection. Several symptoms indicate a root canal infection, but the most recognizable is a severe, throbbing toothache.
Our dentist Dr. Corey Woods needs to get rid of the infected pulp, and the only way to do this is with a root canal procedure at our Albuquerque dental office.
Symptoms of an Infected or Abscessed Tooth
Severe tooth pain is a common symptom of a root infection, but there are several others to watch out for:
- Extreme sensitivity to touch and temperatures
- Jaw pain or swelling
- Swollen, tender, or inflamed gums
- A whitish raised bump on your gum
- Darkening of the tooth
- A foul odor or taste in your mouth
You can also have a root infection with no symptoms at all, but the damage is still occurring to the tooth. At Blue Sky Dental, we strongly encourage dental exams every six months for this very reason; you may not know it’s there, but your dentist will.
Don’t Fear Root Canals!
In the hands of an experienced dentist like Dr. Woods, a root canal is a straightforward, routine dental procedure and nothing to fear! Even if you are in a lot of pain, the moment we numb your tooth, it will disappear for good. That’s why we say root canals don’t cause pain; they relieve it! While the tooth is numb, Dr. Woods removes the infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth then seals it with a temporary filling.
You may experience soreness after your procedure for a day or two but not pain. In about two weeks, you’ll return to our Albuquerque dental office so our dentist can place a dental crown or filling on the tooth to protect it.
Schedule an Appointment
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, call Blue Sky Dental right away. You should never ignore an infection, and in the case of your tooth, putting off root canal treatment can be deadly.
Call our Albuquerque dental office at (505) 275-2942, and we will see you as soon as possible to relieve your pain and save the tooth.
