Root Canal Therapy – Spring Lake, NJ
Save Your Infected Tooth
If a tooth becomes infected, there’s a chance you could lose it altogether unless you treat it. In many cases, root canal therapy is the best option available to save your pearly whites, and despite its reputation, the procedure causes no more discomfort than a simple filling. Dr. Dooley has studied many different dental techniques and can ensure that you receive the best quality care possible. If you’ve got a toothache that’s lasted more than a couple of days, contact us for an appointment today to determine whether or not root canal therapy from our Spring Lake, NJ dentist in an option.
Why Choose Smile Studio of Spring Lake for Root Canal Therapy?
- Nitrous Oxide Sedation Offered
- Compassionate Dentist and Staff
- Whole-Person Dental Approach
How Root Canal Therapy Works
The root canal is actually part of your tooth’s anatomy; it’s the space in the root that contains the pulp chamber. When an infection reaches the pulp, it needs to be removed to prevent more damage from being done.
At the beginning of the procedure, the area around the affected tooth is numbed with a local anesthesia. (In some cases, this may not be necessary since the nerves in the tooth are dead, but we can do it anyway to make sure you stay relaxed.) A sheet of rubber is placed around the tooth to keep it dry, and an access hole is created. The pulp is removed, as is any bacteria, decayed nerve tissue or debris.
Once that’s done, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and resealed. Since the tooth is often weakened by the procedure, in many cases you’ll receive a dental crown.
Why Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
Bacteria on your teeth can feed off the sugars and starches you eat to produce acid that slowly wears away the enamel. If the resulting cavity isn’t filled, the bacteria may eventually enter the tooth itself and infect the pulp, causing an extremely painful toothache. Over time, the infection could spread to other parts of the body and cause various health issues. At some point, the tooth will need to be extracted altogether once too much damage is done. A root canal will relieve your pain and stop the infection before the worst can happen.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
- Save Your Tooth: If you lose your natural tooth, your jawbone could start to break down, and you might need to pay for dental implants or partial dentures. Keeping all of your natural teeth is healthier and more cost effective.
- Efficient: Compared to the multiple visits needed to get replacement teeth, root canal therapy is a lot more efficient and can usually be completed in only a couple of appointments.
- Visually Appealing Results: After the procedure, you can repair your tooth with a ceramic crown that’s designed to look natural in your mouth.
No Need to Be Afraid!
While root canal therapy is often said to be especially painful, this simply isn’t true thanks to modern dental techniques and effective anesthesia. In fact, compared to tooth extractions in particular, far more patients have described root canal therapy as “painless.” It’s normal to feel some discomfort for a few days afterwards, but this is temporary and can easily be controlled with pain medication and ice packs.
