Root Canal Procedures in Denver, CO
Anxiety-Free Root Canal Treatments
Root canal treatment can eliminate dangerous tooth infections and prevent the need for tooth extraction. At Reiser Dental, we specialize in personalized dental care and anxiety-free root canal procedures in Denver, CO. Dr. Resier and his team do everything possible to make each patient’s visit comfortable, welcoming, and stress-free. We go over exactly what to expect from root canal treatment and ensure each patient is fully prepared for the procedure.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal therapy is a surgical procedure that removes infected, damaged, or inflamed dental pulp from the inside of the tooth. The tooth’s interior is then cleaned and disinfected, then sealed up again. The tooth is protected with a dental crown that offers structural integrity and reduces the risk of breakage or chipping. The dental pulp consists of tissue, blood vessels, and nerves and resides inside the tooth. Infection can occur due to untreated dental decay, dental cavities, or damage to the tooth from trauma, disease, or poor oral hygiene. A root canal dentist will perform the procedure to eliminate infection, prevent complications, and save the tooth from extraction.
Signs You Should Visit a Root Canal Dentist
You should visit your dentist for a consultation for a root canal procedure if you have:
- Persistent tooth pain.
- Swollen and tender gums.
- A loose tooth or tooth mobility.
- Tooth sensitivity to heat or cold.
- Severe tooth decay or a dental cavity.
- Discoloration of the tooth and/or gums.
- A chipped, cracked, broken, or damaged tooth.
- Pain when you touch the tooth, bear down on it, or chew.
- Tooth pain combined with signs of infection, such as a fever, bad breath, bloody gums, pus, an abscess, or tenderness or inflammation of the cheeks, gums, or jaw.
What Causes a Root Canal?
A root canal procedure is necessary if bacteria have invaded the dental pulp inside your tooth. This typically happens when you don’t treat a dental cavity or if your tooth is damaged due to age, illness, trauma, or a medical condition. Your risk of bacteria and/or infection increases if you don’t practice proper oral hygiene, smoke, or take medication that reduces saliva production or causes dry mouth.
What a Root Canal Can Fix
Root canal treatment repairs damaged and infected teeth. The alternative to a root canal procedure is tooth extraction, which is the only other way to eliminate diseased and infected tissue. If you don’t undergo an extraction or root canal procedure, you risk the infection spreading through your bloodstream. It can then travel to your organs, including your heart, and cause significant damage.
What to Expect During the Root Canal Procedure
Before a root canal procedure, your root canal dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the tooth and gums. He may also provide you with anti-anxiety medication to make the procedure less stressful. He will then place a dental dam in your mouth to keep the area dry and isolate the tooth. Next, he will drill a small hole in the tooth to reach the dental pulp. He will use specialized dental instruments to clean out the infected nerves, blood vessels, and tissues. When all infected dental pulp is removed, they will clean and disinfect the cavity. Finally, he will seal the hole to prevent bacteria from entering. He will place a dental crown over your tooth to stabilize the tooth and reduce the risk of breakage or damage.
Root Canal Aftercare
You will likely have tooth sensitivity and tenderness for the first few days after a root canal procedure. Your root canal dentist will either prescribe you pain medication or recommend that you take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like Advil or Aleve. You can also use an ice pack to treat pain, swelling, and inflammation. You may also be prescribed an antibiotic. Most people can return to their normal activities within one or two days.
Cost of Root Canal Therapy
The cost of root canal treatment depends on the location of the root canal, the extent of tooth restoration needed, the root canal dentist you use, and your dental insurance coverage. On average, root canal procedures cost between $1,000-1,600.
Schedule an Appointment With a Root Canal Dentist
If you suspect you need root canal treatment in Denver, CO, come see us at Reiser Dental. Dr. Reiser and his team specialize in personalized dental care, and they take special care to make the office comforting, inviting, and stress-free. Our goal is to avoid tooth extraction while balancing patient safety and care. Call us today or contact us online to make an appointment.