There are two alternatives: no treatment or extraction. Leaving an infected or sore tooth alone without going to the dentist for treatment is never a wise choice. The infection could worsen and spread to other areas of your mouth and body.
If your tooth is extracted, there will be an area in your mouth without a tooth. We can offer you tooth replacement options, but we prefer to try to save the tooth if possible. Therefore, we recommend pursuing treatment quickly when pain develops. The sooner your sore tooth is treated, the more likely the treatment will be successful.
We will numb the infected area using a local anesthetic at the beginning of your root canal appointment. After the anesthetic has taken effect, we will create an entrance into the tooth. Then, we use special files to remove the infected pulp. We will take a number of x-rays during the process. After removing the pulp, we fill the area and seal it off.
There should be absolutely no pain during the root canal procedure. If there is, we ask that you tell us, so we can ensure you are properly numb. We offer dental sedation options because we believe your comfort level during your appointment is important. After the root canal procedure and the anesthesia wears off, you can expect to feel some pain. However, the pain should not be debilitating or prevent you from performing normal daily activities. Pain will be most significant immediately after treatment and normally resolve within 3-5 days.
Coverage for root canals depends upon the insurance plan. Sometimes dental benefits will cover up to 80% of the cost of root canals, but sometimes the insurance carrier places the burden of payment entirely upon the patient. Contact us to help determine what your cost would be for root canal treatment.
At The Dentist in Louisville, we can perform both root canals and implants, so you can rest assured that we weigh the pros and cons of saving your teeth. When the root canal is recommended, it is because we believe your tooth can still survive for a significant period. We will make sure that you understand our decision-making process so that you can decide if our recommended treatment is right for you.
