Root Canal Treatment Weymouth MA
In some cases, the only way to save a tooth affected by trauma or infection is to undergo a root canal treatment. In spite of popular depictions in movies and television, root canal procedures are a very common treatment that do not involve any pain. In fact, root canal treatment actually relieves the patient of the pain that they are experiencing by removing its source.
What Is a Root Canal?
Medically known as endodontic treatment, root canal therapy is used to remove infected or inflamed tissue from within a tooth. This should save the tooth, which often receives a dental crown following the root canal treatment.
How Is a Root Canal Performed?
If you should require a root canal treatment, your dentist would begin by administering a local anesthetic to numb your tooth. They would then drill down into the crown of the tooth to allow for the access of dental instruments.
Next, your dentist would insert dental instruments into the pulp chamber and root canals, thoroughly cleaning out all infected and inflamed dental pulp. They would then reshape the area, filling it with a material like gutta-percha.
Your dentist would then place a temporary filling to protect the tooth. At some point, a dental crown would normally be placed over the treated tooth for long-term protection. This would involve a waiting period while the crown is created in a dental laboratory.
What Happens After Treatment?
Most patients have no desire to eat immediately after root canal treatment, but at some point, you will become hungry and want to eat. You need to wait for the anesthetic to completely wear off before eating so that you don’t accidentally bite your inner cheek or unknowingly damage your mouth in some way.
It is normal to experience some degree of tenderness around a tooth that has undergone a root canal. Over-the-counter medication is often sufficient to treat any pain or discomfort. Contact your dentist if you experience pain that lingers more than a few days after your root canal treatment.
You should also contact your dentist right away if you notice any visible swelling, which could indicate a post-procedure infection. If you experience swelling, like itching or hives, it could be due to an allergic reaction to a medication or anesthetic.
Once you have fully healed and recovered from your root canal treatment, continue to brush and floss around the area of treatment, just as you do with your other teeth.
How Much Will It Cost?
The specific cost of a root canal treatment varies from dentist to dentist. During your root canal consultation, your dentist will let you know how much your root canal treatment will cost.
Dental insurance does not always cover root canal treatment. You’ll need to carefully go through your insurance documents, or contact your insurance company, to ensure that your root canal treatment will be covered. Dental financing options like CareCredit can also be used to pay for root canal treatment.