When you hear the words “root canal,” you might immediately remember a story you heard from a friend about a long, painful trip to the dentist. Perhaps you had a problematic dental experience that has caused you to feel anxious about going to the dentist. Well, the truth is that a root canal is a common dental procedure that doesn’t cause pain; it actually eliminates pain in many instances. Not only that, but a root canal can help save your natural tooth. So, what are the steps of a root canal? Keep reading to find out.
Signs You Might Need a Root Canal
If you have tooth decay that reaches the pulp of your tooth, you may need a root canal. Some of the symptoms you could experience include the following:
- Tooth pain that doesn’t go away on its own
- Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold
- Gum swelling or tenderness
- Tooth discoloration
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- A loose tooth
- A bump or pimple near the affected tooth
4 Easy Steps to a Root Canal
Root canal therapy keeps the infection in your tooth from spreading and restores the health of your tooth as well. The steps for a root canal are as follows:
1. Numbing – The first step of the root canal process is to numb your tooth with a local anesthetic. If your infected tooth was causing pain, this numbing process will eliminate your pain.
2. Cleaning – Once you are comfortable and numb, we will isolate your affected tooth to keep it dry before cleaning out the tooth’s infected pulp. This step removes all signs of infection and decay from your tooth. Next, we will apply medicine to the area to help reduce the swelling and keep the tooth from getting infected again.
3. Sealing – Once your tooth is sufficiently cleaned and sterilized, we will add composite material to fill your tooth. This filling material will protect your tooth’s root.
4. Capping – The final step in the root canal process is to add a dental crown on top of your tooth. This crown will strengthen your tooth and help ensure it doesn’t crack or break in the future.
Do You Need a Root Canal Dentist in Farmington Hills?
If you want more information about root canals in Farmington Hills, MI, we are ready to take your call! At Barone Family Dental, we want to help you maintain your natural smile, and root canal therapy is one way we can do just that. You can reach our dental office at (248) 855-1277 for more information or to schedule an appointment.