How Root Canal Treatment Can Save Your Smile

It’s time to get to the root of your dental pain.

Brushing and flossing every day goes a long way to reducing your risk for decay, gum disease, and other common dental problems. Unfortunately, problems can sometimes still occur, and when they do, you want a dentist you can turn to in Lexington, KY. Here at TLC Dentistry, our dental team of Dr. William Lee, Dr. Pada Chalothom, and Dr. William Cartee, Jr., provides patients with immediate dental care when it matters most.

Here are the warning signs that you might need a root canal:

  • A severe toothache
  • Dental pain that gets worse when biting down or putting pressure on the tooth
  • Sudden prolonged tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
  • A darkening tooth (a sign that the roots of the tooth have died)
  • The formation of an abscess (a pimple-like bump on the gums)

Any of these problems warrant an immediate trip to our Lexington, KY, dental office for care. The sooner a toothache is treated, the better the prognosis. After all, once the inside of the tooth has become infected the best way to treat it is with a simple root canal.

What is root canal therapy?

While the outer part of the tooth is amazingly strong and resilient, it can still be susceptible to damage. Everything from a traumatic injury to the tooth to deep decay can end up damaging the inside of the tooth, known as the dental pulp. The pulp is the only part of the tooth that contains nerves, so when the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, this causes a toothache to set in. Once the pulp becomes infected, the only way to treat the problem is with a root canal.

During a root canal, our Lexington, KY, emergency dentist will go inside the tooth to carefully and gently extract the pulp. A root canal is performed under local anesthesia so you won’t feel a thing. Once the pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth will be thoroughly cleaned to remove any bacteria.

Next, the roots and the inside of the tooth are filled with a special supportive material known as gutta-percha. Lastly, a crown is placed over the tooth to restore and preserve the tooth, making it strong and fully functional again. In essence, a root canal can save a tooth and prevent it from getting extracted.

Concerned? Give our dentists a call

If you are experiencing dental pain in Lexington, KY, then it’s time that you called TLC Dentistry right away at (859) 223-8987 for a same-day checkup. We know the importance of getting dental care when an emergency arises. Call us today!

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