Root Canal Therapy – Manchester, NH
A Way to Save Infected Teeth
If tooth decay is left alone for long enough, bacteria will eventually manage to reach the pulp of your tooth and cause an infection. Dr. Golparvar will do everything he can to save your infected tooth. In many cases, he may use root canal therapy to stop your pain while also allowing you to keep the tooth in question. Don’t worry about discomfort; our team always makes keeping you as comfortable as possible a priority! Give us a call if you have a dental emergency and think root canal therapy may be the solution.
Why Choose Webster Dental Associates of Manchester for Root Canal Therapy?
- CEREC Crowns Created in One Day
- Dentist That Cares About Comfort
- Same-Day Emergency Visits
Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
Any moderate or severe discomfort in a single tooth or multiple teeth could mean that you need a root canal. Additionally, infected teeth tend to be extremely sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, and they often hurt when you put pressure on them (which will most likely happen when you’re trying to use the affected tooth to chew something).
You could also need a root canal if you have a particularly dark-looking tooth or if your gums have become swollen. We’ll be able to say for sure what kind of treatment is appropriate in your case after we’ve gathered more information about your tooth and the rest of your mouth.
The Root Canal Process
To make the prospect of having root canal therapy performed a bit less intimidating, our team can go over the process step-by-step with you. Here are the basics:
- Local analgesics are used to fully numb the area that will receive treatment. Thanks to this step, you won’t experience discomfort while your root canal therapy is being performed.
- An opening is created in the tooth, allowing us to work with the pulp and the inner chambers.
- Using special instruments, we take the pulp out of the tooth, thus getting rid of the source of your toothache.
- The inside of the tooth must be thoroughly cleaned, and afterward, a biocompatible substance is placed to completely fill the empty space.
- We’ll eventually place a crown on the tooth that was treated in order to keep it safe. You may have to wear a temporary crown until the permanent version is ready.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
Many patients are so afraid of root canal therapy that they outright avoid having it performed. However, it’s worth remembering that one of the main goals of the procedure is to stop the pain caused by an infection. Furthermore, treating a tooth with a root canal often means:
- You’ll be able to save money by avoiding the need for an extraction and subsequent tooth replacement.
- You’ll retain your natural tooth, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a complete smile such as an unrestricted diet.
- You’ll receive a natural-looking crown that the casual observer could easily mistake for a real tooth.
Root Canals FAQs
Even if you already know that a root canal treatment is necessary and that our team will do everything they can to keep you comfortable, you might still be somewhat nervous about the procedure. One way to calm your anxieties is to learn as much as you can about root canals; oftentimes, the more you know about what’s going to happen, the less frightening it will seem. We encourage you to call our office if you have any questions about root canal treatment, and we encourage you to check the FAQs below to see if there’s any information that you may find helpful.
Learn MoreHow Long Does It Take to Recover from a Root Canal?
Your mouth may be somewhat sore for a few days after your root canal treatment. The discomfort should start to fade after about three days; in the meantime, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can help.
Many people only need a day of rest after their root canal before going back to their regular schedules. That said, people with jobs that involve physical labor of any kind may want to take two or three days off of work.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
The treatment can sometimes be completed in just 30 minutes. However, in some cases, it could take around 90 minutes or longer. The location of the tooth in question can make a big difference when it comes to the length of the procedure.
Normally only one appointment is needed for a root canal, but it’s not unheard of for two to be required. If you do end up needing a second visit, some antibacterial medicine will be placed in your tooth. This should help manage your discomfort until it’s time to complete the treatment.
What Happens if You Wait Too Long for a Root Canal?
Your body won’t have any way to effectively fight the infection inside your tooth, meaning the problem will grow more severe over time. The pain might eventually stop once the nerves of the tooth are completely dead, but the infection will still be present, and it could eventually start to affect the rest of your jaw or even other parts of your body.
Having a root canal performed as quickly as possible could save you from the worst consequences of a tooth infection. It can also protect the tooth from further damage, thus potentially allowing you to avoid an extraction.
Are Root Canals Covered by Insurance?
You can get in touch with your insurance company to see whether they’re willing to pay for root canal treatment. You can typically expect the procedure to at least partially be covered provided that you have yet to meet your annual maximum.
The amount that your insurance company is willing to pay for a root canal depends on whether they consider it a minor or major restorative procedure. If it’s classified as minor, coverage may be around 80%; if it’s major, then your insurance company will likely pay roughly 50%.