What You Need to Know About Root Canals

The sooner you seek treatment for an infected tooth, the more likely you’ll be able to avoid extraction. That being said, a lot of people still feel anxious about getting a root canal. The good news is that our emergency dentist in South Bend, IN, is ready to help.

Dr. Gasko will make sure that you are numb and comfortable during root canal therapy so you don’t experience any discomfort. He’ll also walk you through every step of the procedure so you know what to expect.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about root canal treatment and how it can protect your oral health.

Candidates for Root Canal Therapy

You may need a root canal if you have a deep crack, chip, or cavity in your tooth. Once the structure of the tooth is compromised, bacteria can enter and infect the pulp within. 

Dental pulp contains the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue of your tooth. As such, it’s important to remove the infection as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the body.

You may need a root canal if you experience any of the following:

• Toothache
• Prolonged sensitivity to heat and cold
• Pain while chewing or biting
• Fever
• Bad breath
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes
• Pimple on the gums

You may have a higher risk of needing an emergency root canal if you don’t practice good oral hygiene, experience dry mouth, or consume a lot of sugar.

What Happens During a Root Canal

First, you’ll need to schedule an emergency appointment with our office. During your visit, we’ll examine your mouth and take X-rays to determine your next steps. If we discover that the tooth is infected, Dr. Gasko may recommend the root canal procedure. Dental extraction would only be recommended as a last resort if the tooth is past the point of no return.

Related: Do I Need Emergency Dental Care? →

To ensure your comfort during a root canal, we’ll give you local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth. Our dentist may then place a small rubber sheet around the tooth to keep it clean and dry during the procedure.

From there, Dr. Gasko will create a small opening near the top of the tooth and carefully remove the inflamed or infected pulp. He’ll also clean, disinfect, and seal the tooth to prevent future infections.

Next, we’ll take dental impressions and send them to the lab that will be making your dental crown. While you wait, we’ll place a temporary crown to protect the tooth until you return to our office for the final restoration.

Learn if You Need Root Canal Treatment

Are you experiencing dental pain? If so, it’s time to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in South Bend, IN. Dr. Michael Gasko is accepting new patients and will be able to diagnose the source of your discomfort. To schedule an emergency appointment, please call Select Dental Associates at (574) 232-8888. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.

This blog post has been updated.