Recommended Root Canal Treatment in Baton Rouge

What is a Root Canal?

To understand root canal treatment, it helps to know something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp.

The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development.

The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The pulp is important during a tooth’s growth and development.

However, once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the pulp, because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

When decay or infection break through the enamel and dentin layers to expose the pulp, you need a root canal to avoid severe swelling, abscesses, pain, and other ensuing problems.

When one undergoes a root canal, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.

Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth.

What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

There’s no need to be worried if your dentist or endodontist prescribes a root canal procedure to treat a damaged or diseased tooth. Millions of teeth are treated and saved this way each year, relieving pain and making teeth healthy again.

A modern root canal treatment is nothing like those old sayings! It’s very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances.

Getting a root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. You’ll be back to smiling, biting and chewing with ease in no time.

Saving the natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages:

• Efficient chewing
• Normal biting force and sensation
• Natural appearance
• Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain

Does a Root Canal Hurt?

Since patients are given anesthesia, a root canal isn’t more painful than a regular dental procedure, such as a filling or getting a wisdom tooth removed. However, a root canal is generally a bit sore or numb after the procedure, and can even cause mild discomfort for a few days.

How Do You Know if You Need a Root Canal?

When the pulp of your tooth is exposed and infected, the only options are root canal or extraction. Trauma or injury to the tooth, severe decay, and infection from periodontal disease all point to the need for a root canal.

Only your dentist at Elements Dental Spa – Baton Rouge Dentist & Aesthetics Spa can officially diagnose a need for a root canal, but knowing and recognizing the symptoms can help prepare you for the consultation. 

There are a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal:

• A random throbbing pain in the jaw
• Severe pain while chewing or biting or pain with pressure
• The presence of a fistula (small bubble of pus) on the gums in front of the infected tooth
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
• Swollen or tender gums
• Deep decay or darkening of the gums

If you are concerned with any of the above symptoms, call us today here at  225-398-8812 and set up an exam. In addition to the exam, our dentist will take digital radiographs to check for infection at the root tip.

Our team will determine if you need a root canal – and after this procedure, we will also recommend applying a crown to the tooth to protect it from fracturing.

Can I Go to School or Work After Getting a Root Canal?

Although you will most likely be numb for 2-4 hours following the procedure, most patients are able to return to school or work directly following a root canal. However, it is advised against eating until the numbness is completely gone. 

How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?

The cost varies depending on how complex the problem is and which tooth is affected. Molars are more difficult to treat; the fee is usually more; however, most dental insurance policies provide some coverage for endodontic treatment.

Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. Tooth extraction is avoided whenever possible, as it can lead to bone loss, teeth shifting, poor function, and poor aesthetics.

An extracted tooth must be replaced with an implant or bridge to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting, and these procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration. 

Therefore, root canals are the preferred treatment because they allow you to keep your tooth and preserve the bone underneath it.

Our dentists follow careful, proven, and trusted methods to ensure a safe root canal treatment, sealing off the potential for further damage and helping restore the tooth in question.

Need a Root Canal? Give Elements Dental Spa a Call Today!

Remember that root canals don’t cause pain— they relieve it. However, we understand that undergoing the procedure can be uncomfortable, especially if an infection is involved. For that, our emergency dentist may prescribe an over-the-counter pain medication and an antibiotic. 

Our staff is very knowledgeable in careful methods and procedures for a safe root canal treatment. We understand your worries and anxiety regarding root canal procedures.

We will work with you to ensure you are comfortable and confident in the chair, and you can rest easy in the experienced hands of our practice. Every patient is different when it comes to dealing with our procedure, so we’ll make sure to adjust to your needs. 

If you think that you may be in need of a root canal or if you would like to learn more about our root canal procedure at Elements Dental Spa – Baton Rouge Dentist & Aesthetics Spa, give us a call today at 225-925-2118 or fill in our contact form!