Root Canal Therapy in Kingwood, TX

Unfortunately, tooth decay does not just go away on its own. In fact, it only gets worse. When the destructive bacteria and decay go deep within a tooth, you may be setting yourself up for an infection, a tooth too damaged for a simple filling, and/or a dead tooth. At Made Ya Smile Dental, our team of experienced dental professionals can diagnose and treat a persistent toothache with our endodontic therapies in Kingwood, TX. Some of the common signs that you might need a root canal are tooth discoloration, a visible pus pocket at the gumline of the infected tooth, a constant toothache, pain in the jaw, and inflamed gums. Meet with our dental team about our root canal therapies to save your pearly whites from extraction, discoloration, and pain. We offer consultations for new and current patients in need of endodontic treatment by appointment in our Kingwood office.

When decay reaches the pulp of a tooth, the health of the tooth and your overall oral health are at risk. In these instances, it's important to treat an abscessed tooth or infected tooth as soon as possible. Root canal treatment is performed in order to save your tooth and prevent further damage and decay. There are many benefits of this treatment, including:

• Preventing tooth loss
• Alleviating pain
• Preventing infection from spreading
• Improving overall oral health
• Preventing jawbone deterioration
• Improved appearance of your teeth and smile
• Easier to speak and eat

Your Made Ya Smile Dental dentist will evaluate your teeth to see if there is a need for a root canal. Generally, there is a chance you will need one if you have a deep cavity that goes all the way to the center of the tooth. Also, a cracked or fractured tooth from an accident or trauma may harm the delicate pulp within the center or may lead to an infection. An infected tooth, also known as an abscess, will only get progressively worse and will not heal itself. Without the proper treatments, the infection can spread into the jaw and other bones in your face. The tooth can also die, which means that you will not be able to save the tooth with a root canal. When you ask yourself do I need a root canal, the answer is yes if you've been dealing with any of the discussed signs. We want to help root canal patients save their teeth and avoid tooth extraction. To learn additional details, like how long a root canal takes, you can schedule an appointment with our dental team at your earliest convenience.

If you have a tooth infection, your dentist may need to put you on an antibiotic to help stop the spread of infection. On the day of treatment, your dentist will provide you with sedation (either nitrous oxide gas or oral-conscious sedation) and inject you with a local anesthetic for the pain at the treatment site. In preparing for the root canal, the infection will likely have to be drained. At Made Ya Smile Dental, we want you to get the care you need without having to worry about discomfort. Once you are numb and the sedation has taken effect, your dentist will begin the work on your tooth. This can include clearing out the tooth decay and prepping the tooth for a restoration afterward. An opening will be made in the tooth if it is not already accessible through the cavity. All of the infected pulp will be removed. Basically, your dentist will be clearing out the root canal and adding in a filler material to bulk up the internal structure of the tooth. A tooth with this level of decay will most likely need a crown to restore functionality. A temporary crown will be placed to cover the tooth until a fixed crown can be made. We will give you post-procedure instructions at the appointment and answer your questions as they arise. Please have transportation arranged to take you home if your treatment included oral-conscious sedation.

Once you are at home, you may notice that your face and gums feel slightly swollen for a few days after the treatment. We advise you to have an over-the-counter pain reliever on hand to help with the discomfort you might feel as your tooth heals. If you are taking antibiotics for the infection, please continue to take the medication until it is all finished. The follow-up to a root canal is a crown placement if it was not placed on the same day. During your routine dental exams, we will check the health of a tooth that has had a root canal to make sure it is strong or if it needs to have a new restoration placed. This makes going to the dentist regularly every year for an exam even more important if you want to maintain your teeth and restorations.

Made Ya Smile Dental accepts several convenient payment methods if your root canal therapy is only covered by a percentage with a limit or not covered at all. Even with a percentage of your treatment covered, there may still be some out-of-pocket expense. We can give you information about low-interest financial plans through CareCredit® if you would like it.

Is root canal therapy painful?
Root canal treatment is performed using sedation dentistry, so your tooth will be numbed prior to beginning the procedure. It will likely cause minimal discomfort, such as with a tooth filling.

What are the alternatives to a root canal?
If you're looking for an alternative root canal procedure, your only option would likely be extracting the infected tooth. It's highly suggested to save the tooth with root canal therapy, as missing teeth can cause significant oral health problems down the road.

How long do root canals take?
Root canals typically take between 30 – 60 minutes but could take longer. The size of the tooth, the location of the tooth, and the number of tooth roots can all impact how long it will take to complete your root canal.

You will find that our team at Made Ya Smile Dental in Kingwood, TX will do our best at managing your discomfort and providing root canal results in 1 – 2 office visits. We also want to reassure you that we do have nitrous oxide sedation, topical anesthetics, and oral-conscious sedation available should you need anti-anxiety interventions to keep you calm. Make your appointment and end the agony of an infected tooth root.