Save Your Tooth and Oral Health with Safe Root Canal Therapy
Root canals have a bad reputation, but it’s entirely undeserved. Modern root canals are safe and virtually painless procedures that save infected teeth. An infected tooth may result in widespread infections and tooth loss without treatment.
Biggio Dental Care uses cutting-edge technology and precision skills to offer advanced root canal treatments in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Also known as endodontic therapy, root canals save your natural tooth and stop unnecessary discomfort.
What are the signs of a root canal?
An excruciating toothache is a constant reminder that teeth aren’t just pieces of bone planted in your gums. Beneath the visible enamel, your tooth contains sensitive nerves and other living tissues. Pain in your tooth is a sign that your pulp tissue is inflamed, injured, or irritated and needs treatment.Â
Besides pain, the other signs of an infected or damaged pulp include:
- Increased tooth sensitivity, especially when consuming hot or cold drinks
- A darkened or discolored tooth as the pulp dies off
- Gums that appear swollen or red
- Bad taste or breathe that doesn’t yield to at-home oral hygiene
- A pimple on your gums
- Pus around your tooth roots
A damaged pulp doesn’t always show symptoms but can be detected during your dental check-up. That’s why keeping up with your regular dental exams at Biggio Dental Care is vital. We detect and treat oral problems that you may not be aware of their presence.
What should I expect during a root canal?
After inspecting your tooth and establishing it’s treatable with a root canal, we’ll numb the surrounding gums to minimize pain during treatment. However, if you are nervous about this procedure, talk to Dr. Biggio about sedation dentistry. We’ll only proceed with your treatment after you are entirely at ease. Â
Once you are set, we’ll isolate your tooth with a rubber dam to protect it from saliva contamination. Then, we’ll make a small access hole in your tooth, which we will use to remove the diseased tissues. Then, the dentist will clean and sterilize your pulp chamber to remove all traces of infection.
The next step is filling your empty chamber and canals with a rubbery gutta-percha material. Finally, we’ll seal the access hole with a tooth filling. In most cases, your dentist will restore your treated tooth with a dental crown to preserve its structural integrity.
Is tooth extraction an option?
If your tooth can be saved with a root canal, tooth removal shouldn’t be an option. Although removing your tooth may seem like the easier route, it leaves a gap that comes with destructive consequences like bone loss, diminished oral function, and ruined aesthetics. Should you decide to replace your tooth, this may involve costly and extensive treatments like implants—a root canal only costs a fraction of the price.
I am ready for a root canal. What’s next?
Through dental advancements, root canals at Biggio Dental Care have increasingly become painless and uncomplicated. If you’d like to save your smile with this restorative treatment, dial (225) 314-6995 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Biggio and his team.
