Root canals are a type of endodontic treatment that focuses on repairing a damaged or diseased tooth. When your tooth is seriously damaged or decayed, the interior soft tissues must be extracted if the outer tooth is to be properly preserved.
New Hyde Park Dental in Lake Success, New York, can remove the inner part of the tooth while preserving the healthy outer part in a root canal procedure.
Root Canal Q & A
What does endodontics mean?
Endodontics is a specific type of dentistry that focuses on the nerves inside the teeth. Root canals are the most well-known type of endodontics today.
What are root canals?
Root canals are a very common endodontic surgery. This type of procedure is performed on teeth that have damaged interiors but healthy exteriors. The infected nerves inside the tooth have to be taken out to avoid further damage to the tooth and the mouth as a whole.
Additionally, those damaged nerves need to be extracted because they can cause serious pain while you are biting down or chewing. A root canal takes the damaged tissue out and then reinforces the remaining healthy tooth.
What happens if infected teeth are not treated?
If a tooth infection isn't treated, there can be severe consequences. The infection can worsen, eventually causing an abscess that could even cause bone loss. An untreated infection is also likely to cause very severe tooth pain, sometimes to the point that the patient is afraid to use an entire side of their mouth for fear of the pain.
What is the root canal process like?
First, our providers will administer anesthesia to numb the area around the infected tooth. Once you're comfortable and don't feel pain in the treatment area, our providers will drill a small hole in the tooth so he can remove infected tissue from the canal. Once the infected nerves are taken out and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, the tooth is filled with a sterile dental material.
You'll then receive a temporary crown. This
crown is worn for a couple of weeks, during which time your custom permanent crown is fabricated in a dental laboratory. When
our providers install the permanent crown, he uses a dental cement to ensure that the crown won't shift or become dislodged. The crown reinforces the tooth, giving it enough strength to function just like a healthy, natural tooth does.
After the root canal, you may have some soreness and swelling for a few days. Our
dental surgeon may prescribe medication to help with the pain, and you can also use ice packs on your jaw to help decrease swelling and reduce discomfort. Costs may vary based on individual needs. Costs may vary based on individual needs.