Root Canal in Tampa
What is a root canal? How long does it take? What are the steps of the procedure?
These common questions and more about root canals are answered in this article.
What is a root canal?
A root canal is when the nerve is removed from the tooth (source). This is necessary when the nerve, or pulp tissue, becomes inflamed or infected.
The tooth looks like a simple solid structure, when in fact it is a complex system of tissue that all have a special task.
To simplify, the tooth is made up of 3 parts:
Root Canal Treatment
If the tooth can be saved then it is recommended to perform a root canal rather than tooth extraction. That way your original tooth is saved and restored.
Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to treat any remaining infection.
Understanding the Root Canal Process
A lot like the root of a tree, the root canals in the tooth have a main root that branches off to smaller roots. This whole area needs to be sealed off properly to be successful and not cause problems later.
There is a great deal of precision and care needed to treat such small spaces within the tooth’s root canal.
That’s why Dr. Moradian uses state-of-the-art technology such as digital imaging in his Tampa office to pinpoint the severity of the root canal issues. Once the procedure is completed he checks again to verify that everything is sealed properly.
To do this properly ultrasonic equipment, such as specialized microscopes are used to remove old fillings in the canal, as visualize the and seal the tooth properly.
Understanding the process should give you an idea of what to expect and reduce patients’ fears.
Root canals have come a long way over the years with the improvement and medical training of dentists. The process eliminates pain and has a higher chance of success to save the tooth, while reducing complications in the future.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
It commonly takes 30 minutes to an hour. However, if the case is more severe and the patient has put off the treatment for some time there may be some complexities.
Therefore it could take around 90 minutes. Root canals typically require 2 sessions.
Many people make the mistake and assume that they’ll be in pain for the duration of the procedure. This is incorrect because your dentist uses local anesthesia.
Therefore, you’ll have pain for much longer, and much more severe, if you don’t get a root canal.
Pain after a root canal
It is common to feel discomfort after a root canal. Your dentist will prescribe some pain medication for you if necessary, but usually over the counter medication (OTC) will work fine. Most patients explain that the tooth is tender or sensitive for a few days after the root canal procedure. This is common.
However, in most cases, the sensitivity disappears after a couple days. In the unusual and uncommon case that the pain persists longer than that, or have an unbearable throbbing pain, contact Dr. Moradian’s office for an emergency appointment.