Root Canals in Indianapolis & Bloomington, IN
When you have an infected or abscessed tooth, a root canal in Indianapolis IN is necessary to relieve your pain and preserve the tooth. Severe tooth decay and a chipped or cracked tooth that lets in bacteria are the most common reasons for needing a root canal. Knowing the symptoms of a tooth infection is important to help you get the treatment you need in a timely manner. You should never ignore any new or persistent oral health symptoms.
Indications You Might Need a Root Canal
Pain that doesn’t go away when you take over-the-counter pain relievers or avoid chewing with that tooth is one of the most obvious signs that a tooth infection has started. Please contact Indiana Emergency Dental right away if you have significant pain, a crack or chip in a tooth, or any of the symptoms listed below.
- Darkened gums
- Discoloration of one or more teeth
- Jaw pain or swelling
- Loose teeth
- Pimples on your gums, with or without pus formation
- Tooth sensitivity that lingers for several seconds when you eat or drink something hot or cold
Although these are the most common indications that you could need a root canal, you may have symptoms not listed here. Please don’t hesitate to contact us whenever you have concerns, or something just doesn’t feel right to you. We are here to help you feel better as quickly as possible.
Benefits of Receiving a Root Canal
Maybe you know that you need a root canal but have put off scheduling an appointment due to fear about the procedure. While root canals could be painful in the past, the reality is that you won’t experience any more discomfort than you would when get a filling, having a tooth extracted, or any other common dental procedure. We provide you with anesthesia at the start of your appointment and make sure you feel comfortable before proceeding.
Getting a root canal when you need it offers additional benefits besides eliminating pain. Your normal biting and chewing force will return, making eating a much more pleasant experience. Root canals also protect your other teeth from taking on too much strain to make up for the infected tooth not doing its job.
What to Expect on the Day of Your Root Canal
A few days before your procedure, you need to take antibiotic medication that your dentist will prescribe to you. If you smoke, you should refrain from doing so for several days before your root canal and make a plan to quit permanently.
On the day of your appointment, your dentist injects local anesthesia into the gum tissue surrounding the affected tooth. If you feel so anxious that it might affect your ability to cooperate with our dentist, just let us know and we can offer you a sedative option. Once the anesthesia and potential sedative have taken effect, our dentist places a rubber dam over the tooth to keep it dry throughout the procedure.
Here are the remaining steps our dentist takes during your root canal:
- Drills a small hole in the tooth to provide access to its pulp
- Uses small dental instruments to remove pulp, blood vessels, and nerves from inside your tooth
- Shapes, cleans, and disinfects the tooth
- Uses a dental putty known as gutta-percha to fill the tooth’s empty canals
- Seals the tooth with filling material and a dental crown
Most root canals take no more than one hour to complete. However, larger teeth with several canals can take a bit longer. We will provide you with prescription pain relievers and complete instructions on caring for your treated tooth at home. Any discomfort you feel should subside within a few days.
Please contact us at your convenience if you think you need a root canal in Indianapolis IN.
