
Even though root canals may have a bad reputation as a painful, dramatic procedure, the truth is that root canals are beneficial! They can help you find relief from painful toothaches, and they may help you avoid a tooth extraction. Because a root canal allows you to keep your natural tooth, you don’t have to worry about replacing a pulled tooth.
While there’s a time and place for root canals, Mehrnoosh Darj, DDS, knows that if you can avoid the need for a root canal, that’s even better! Here, we explain what you need to do in order to avoid a root canal, courtesy of the team at Dr. Darj Dental in El Paso, Texas.
Before identifying the ways to avoid a root canal, let’s first cover the situations that may warrant a root canal. A root canal is typically beneficial if your tooth is severely decayed or damaged and is at risk of being pulled. A root canal preserves your tooth so you can avoid an extraction.
Root canals can help preserve your tooth if:
In other words, any untreated cavity or dental injury that leads to an infection inside of your tooth can increase your need for a root canal.
Regardless of why you need a root canal, the general process is the same. Dr. Darj thoroughly cleans the inside of your tooth, removing any decayed or damaged pulp material, She then fills it with a material called gutta percha, a natural rubber substance derived from the tree Palaquium oblongifolia.
After Dr. Darj cleans, fills, and seals your tooth and its roots, we protect your tooth with a dental crown. In this way, a root canal can be a tooth-saving procedure!
Even though root canals save you from a tooth extraction, it’s ideal to try and avoid the need for a root canal. The best way to do so is to reduce your risk of decay, damage, and infection. You can do this by:
Signs of infection include toothache, sore gums, a bump on your gums, bad breath, and throbbing pain. Sometimes, infections can be treated with antibiotics alone, but if the infection is severe, you may need a root canal. In either case, it’s best not to postpone dental care if you suspect you have an infection brewing.
If you need urgent dental care for a toothache, infection, or dental trauma, give us a call at 915-213-4097. We prioritize our patients with urgent dental cases and reserve same-day appointments for such issues. If you need a root canal, cleaning, or another dental service, you can call our office or request an appointment online.