Root Canal Treatment – Toledo, OH
Restore Your Tooth, Restore Your Smile!
The American Association of Endodontists recently shared that a whopping 67% of Americans are scared of needing root canal treatment. That’s not too surprising since the reputation of this restorative dental service is so scary. However, it’s actually completely painless thanks to the latest techniques and powerful numbing agents! If you have any questions, you can always reach out to our Toledo dental team. Otherwise, you can read on to learn more.
Why Choose Dental Group West for Root Canal Treatment?
- Compassionate and Highly Trained Dentists
- Sedation Dentistry Available
- Convenient Appointment Times
Do I Need Root Canal Treatment?
At your biannual visits to our office, our Toledo dentists will carefully examine your teeth and gums, looking for warning signs of decay and infection in the process. However, it’s equally as important that you keep an eye out for abnormal dental symptoms between your appointments as well, including:
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Pain when biting down
- Dark discoloration on one tooth
- Severe dental sensitivity
- A blister or pimple-like bump on your gums
If any of these arise, then you should contact us right away. From there, we can conduct an exam, determine the root of the problem, and intervene with the necessary restorative care.
The Root Canal Process
As we touched on at the beginning of the page, the root canal treatment process is painless because the first step is always the same: using a numbing agent on the area of your mouth that we will be working on. Once you’re ready to begin, we will use special instruments to access the inner chambers of your tooth and remove the damaged tissue and pulp. Next, we will sanitize the area, fill the tooth with a synthetic gutta-percha material, and place a restoration over top. When you return home, you might feel some soreness. Don’t worry – you can alleviate any discomfort that arises with the aftercare instructions we provide you with, including taking OTC pain medication as directed.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
There are several benefits of root canal treatment. Here are a few of the most noteworthy ones:
- The procedure is virtually painless
- The results can last for decades
- It can save your tooth from needing to be extracted
- The restoration is both natural-looking and durable
As always, if you have any questions for our team about root canal treatment – or any other dental care you need – don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Root Canal FAQs
How Much Pain is Normal After a Root Canal?
While you won’t feel anything during the procedure, you may feel some soreness after the numbing agent wears off. Don’t worry – you can keep discomfort at bay with a few simple steps, like taking OTC pain medication as directed, not chewing on that side of your mouth, and rinsing periodically with warm saltwater. If you’re still experiencing symptoms past the three-day mark, then give us a call so we can see if an infection has developed.
Can I Eat Before a Root Canal?
That depends! For example, if you are being sedated, we may ask you to fast in the hours before your appointment to prevent nausea. If you aren’t being sedated, then you can eat a well-balanced, nutrient-dense meal beforehand.
Note: Following the procedure, your mouth will be numb. For that reason, we don’t recommend eating anything until you’ve regained full sensation. This will help prevent a serious soft tissue injury.
What Happens if You Wait Too Long for a Root Canal?
The longer you wait to get a root canal, the more time the infection has to wreak havoc on your oral health. That’s why taking the “wait and see” approach is the worst thing you can do! If you wait too long, then saving your tooth may not even be an option; the only solution will be removing it and putting a dental bridge or implant in its place.
If you’re hesitant to move forward for any reason – whether it’s because you want to learn more about the procedure or because you struggle with dental-related anxiety – don’t hesitate to let us know! That way, we can find a solution that helps you feel comfortable getting the restorative care you need.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
You might be surprised to hear that the answer is yes! To keep your teeth strong and your gums healthy, you need to adopt healthy habits, like flossing consistently, getting a dental checkup twice a year, keeping your consumption of added sugar to a minimum, and wearing a mouthguard when you participate in physical activities.
Remember, dental pain is just one of many symptoms of a severely decayed or damaged tooth. Dark discoloration, bleeding gums, and chronic bad breath are other common warning signs. Plus, we want to intervene with the necessary care before you’re in considerable pain! Simply put, just because you don’t have a toothache doesn’t mean you don’t need a root canal. If you’re ever uncertain about your treatment plan, ask us for further clarification. We’d be happy to review what we found during your exam and explain why we recommend moving forward with root canal treatment.