Root Canals by Experienced Dentists
Root Canals in New Orleans Area
Few patients feel joy or anticipation when told they need a root canal procedure. It’s true that root canals have an unfair reputation of being painful, but they actually provide many benefits, including restoring health to a damaged and weakened tooth along with relieving pain.
By the time patients require a root canal, it’s possible that they have been living in a great deal of pain. Many patients even self-medicate to avoid having to go to their dentist due to their fears of the mythology of root canals. The issue with neglecting dental health treatment is that you risk losing your tooth or spreading an infection.
What is a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is a critical approach used by dentists to save teeth and avoid dental extractions. It’s understandable for patients to worry about a painful process, but our modern dental equipment and technology ensure that this procedure is mostly pain-free. Many patients are surprised at how little they feel during the procedure!
Why Choose Oak Family Dental for a Root Canal?
At Oak Family Dental, we provide gentle and compassionate patient care, which can help patients with dental anxiety. Since root canal treatments save your tooth, they are a conservative approach. An alternative could be dental extraction with a tooth replacement, which can be costlier and take more time.
Our dental office works hard to allow patients to keep their natural teeth. Read below to find out more about root canal procedures and how they can help you. Contact our dental team to schedule an evaluation for your tooth pain.
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Common Questions Answered About Root Canals.
What are the Symptoms That May Result in a Root Canal?
Some symptoms could be mild or painless, which is why it’s essential to let your dentist know any time something unusual occurs with your oral health. Once we can diagnose and treat the issue, you will be able to get back to your regular life!
Failure to diagnose and treat often leads to tooth loss or the spread of infection.
It’s vital that patients understand the benefits of a root canal, and why your dentist recommends them. Most times, the decision to endorse a root canal starts with tooth pain that is a result of an infection or inflammation. During our examination, we will determine if the pulp within the tooth is diseased.
Symptoms of decay or infection within the tooth may include:
- Sudden discoloration of the tooth
- Loose tooth
- Sudden sensitivity to heat or cold
- Past trauma to the tooth
- Swollen gums
- Small fissure on gums
- Pain during eating
- Swollen face
- Sensitivity to heat
Only your dentist can determine if you need a root canal after performing a dental exam. We can spot early tooth infection in time before it becomes a stressful dental emergency. At Oak Family Dental, we always advocate for early treatment for a higher rate of success.
How Do Root Canals Save Teeth?
While the actual root canal procedure isn’t painful, the time leading up to it can be.
Any severe tooth pain is always a sign that there is a dental abnormality that needs to be treated immediately.
Within your tooth are blood vessels, nerves, and tissue. When infection or decay affects any of these components, it’s likely to result in pain and anxiety. Root canals can clear that pain away immediately as soon as we gently remove any damaged tissue and clean the tooth. To protect the tooth, we may recommend a dental crown to cover and seal it to prevent future dental emergencies.
What Can I Expect From a Root Canal Treatment?
During the root canal procedure, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to the site to numb the area, so the patient never experiences pain or discomfort. Oak Family Dental offers multiple sedation alternatives to patients that fear dental procedures.
Once you are comfortable, your dentist will remove any infected or damaged pulp within the tooth. When this step is complete, we will seal the tooth to prevent any bacteria from entering and introducing decay.
Dental crowns are often used to cover and protect a weakened tooth. These dental prosthetics provide additional strength to help the patient bite down, chew, and speak clearly. With proper care and maintenance, they can last for decades—making them a reliable and durable investment.
Is a Root Canal Painful?
Anticipating a root canal treatment can be stressful for anyone.
But we think you’ll be amazed at the difference our effective sedation solutions can make to your treatment. Just knowing that you can drift off during your procedure can make your root canal seem much less intimidating.
Nitrous oxide is a type of sedation that is safe and effective, and will quickly put you in a very relaxed state. You’ll be conscious, but the activity around you seems to fade away, allowing you to remain calm during treatment.
Oral sedation is another good choice, especially if you experience anxiety. We’ll prescribe a sedative for you to take before your appointment so you’ll already be relaxed when you arrive at our office. Furthermore, our dental office offers IV sedation. Remember, however, that you will need a designated driver to get you to and from your appointment.
Always let your experienced dental team know what you need to keep you happy and secure.
Experienced, Friendly Patient Dental Care
Experience and skill count, and our professional team has performed many successful stress-free root canals over the years.
Our compassionate approach to patient care is to form lasting bonds with our patients based on trust and respect for your concerns. We’ll make sure that you understand your procedure and why it’s necessary for your oral health.
We’ve created a beautiful dental office setting that is calm and welcoming; our entire team will go out of their way to make you feel like a valued member of our family. Visiting the dentist for any treatment can be stressful, but you can be confident that our dental team focuses entirely on you and your needs.
Schedule Your Tooth Pain Evaluation
We’d like you to know that our efficient and gentle approach will make your root canal treatment at Oak Family Dental the least stressful you’ve ever had. You can be confident that you are in the highly-skilled and capable hands of experienced dental professionals who have your best interest at heart.
Root canals with Oak Family Dental are an easy and gentle dental procedure. We have provided patients in the Metairie area with high-quality, gentle care for decades, and we’re experts at keeping you calm and comfortable.
Do you think you need a root canal? Contact our dental office today to arrange an examination and treatment. If you are experiencing dental pain, please call us immediately so we can try to see you on the same day.
Severe tooth pain is usually an indicator of a dental emergency. The quicker we can see you, the better our chances are of saving your tooth.