Root Canal Therapy in Austin
Relieve Toothache Pain & Safeguard Against Tooth Loss
In dentistry, no procedure is quite as dreaded as a root canal. But at Parkfield Family Dental, Dr. Tijerina uses modern numbing and sedation techniques to make the procedure virtually pain-free while saving a badly damaged tooth from needing to be extracted. If you have a severe or persistent toothache, a root canal won’t make the situation worse – it will make it much better!
Give us a call today to schedule a visit. Our Austin root canal therapy will help to get you out of pain fast, save your tooth, and help you maintain your oral health for years to come.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal?
Your teeth are made up of three layers: the hard outer layer of enamel, a secondary layer of softer dentin, and an inner pulp that contains the nerve and blood supply of the tooth. Each pulp chamber branches off into canals that extend through the tooth’s roots.
If your tooth has an infection (also called a cavity) that’s gotten large enough that it’s reached the nerve in the center of the tooth, a filling or dental crown won’t solve the problem because it only treats the outer layers of a tooth. As a restorative dentist, we can perform a root canal to treat the infected nerve while preserving the rest of your tooth’s structure.
Here are some of the symptoms you may notice if you need a root canal:
- Severe pain or discomfort when chewing
- A pimple-like bump on the gums
- Facial swelling on one side
- Fever
- Lingering pain after your tooth is exposed to hot or cold
Although it’s fairly uncommon, sometimes a nerve simply dies without any pain or symptoms. However, these cases still require a root canal to address the infection, which can become dangerous if not treated.
How Does a Root Canal Work?
Root canals are generally done in just one appointment. First, Dr. Tijerina will start by making sure you’re fully numb (and will also administer sedation if that’s something you’ve opted for). After this initial step, the procedure is so comfortable that you may even begin to doze off during your visit!
Then he’ll create a small opening in your tooth to access the inner layers and remove the infected nerve tissue. He’ll clean out the root canal and fill it with a rubbery material called gutta percha before sealing the opening in your tooth with a tooth-colored filling material.
Also, it’s important to note that a root canal removes a tooth’s blood supply, leaving it brittle and weak. To restore the tooth’s strength, we typically recommend a dental crown in the following weeks after a root canal.
Benefits of a Root Canal
The primary benefit of a root canal is that it treats the infection in your tooth while leaving the rest of it intact (therefore preventing the need for an extraction).
Here are some additional benefits:
- With advanced anesthetic and sedation options, Dr. Tijerina can make the procedure comfortable for everyone.
- It relieves the pain of a toothache.
- You won’t need a tooth replacement such as a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture.
- It’s a cost-effective way to save your tooth.
With Dr. Tijerina, this procedure is nothing to fear! If you have any questions about our root canal in Austin or want to schedule a visit, call (512) 213-6778 at any time.
