Root Canals in San Antonio, TX
Root canal therapy, endodontic treatment, or simply root canals is a treatment that focuses on preserving a tooth whose dental pulp has suffered infection or damage. Root canal treatment helps you to avoid an extraction and is usually the last resort for patients with severe decay.
Terrell Hills Dental is a leading dental clinic that provides root canals in San Antonio, TX. We want to see our patients keep their natural teeth for as long as is possible. As such, we’ll do our best to help you restore and save your damaged tooth.
Signs That You Need Root Canal Treatment
You’ll know you need root canal treatment if you’re experiencing any or several of the symptoms below:
- Severe, persistent pain, especially when chewing or after application of any sort of pressure.
- Increased sensitivity, even after the source of heat or cold has been removed.
- Dark discoloration of the tooth.
- Swollen gums
- Extensive decay
These signs are often indicative of an infection or inflammation of the dental pulp. Getting timely intervention in the form of root canal therapy increases your chances of preserving your natural teeth.
Root Canals Treatment Procedure
During root canal treatment, our dentist in San Antonio, TX begins by taking dental x-rays to determine the shape of your root canals. The second step involves numbing the area surrounding the tooth. If you’re anxious about the procedure, our dentist may administer sedation as well. Our dentist then drills a hole in your tooth to access the root canals. It’s through this hole that infected pulp, bacteria, and other debris are removed from the canals.
The final step involves sealing the tooth to keep away harmful bacteria to prevent re-infection. In cases where you need root canal treatment because of severe cavities, our dentist near you will recommend getting dental crowns to protect your remaining tooth.
We know that dental procedures can be terrifying for most people. We’re not afraid to go to great lengths to ensure our patients feel safe and at ease during their visits. Please share any concerns, worries, and questions that you may have with us so that we can help you.
If you’re currently looking for a dental practice that provides root canals near you, call Terrell Hills Dental today. We serve patients of all ages.
Endodontics FAQs
Here are some questions patients have asked our dentist in Terrell Hills about endodontics:
Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with our teeth' internal structure and form. This means the roots and other parts inside our teeth.
You should not expect to feel any pain during the root canal treatment. Once the procedure is complete, the only root canal pain you should feel is some moderate soreness and pain.
For smaller teeth, the treatment can take 30 to 60 minutes. However, the treatment can take up to 90 minutes for larger teeth with a larger root system.
That depends on what shape the individual tooth is in. Sometimes, a root canal may not be possible because the tooth is too damaged. However, you should always try to save your teeth.
If you wait to get a root canal, your tooth may rot and fall out, or it can also become infected.