Sugary foods and poor dental hygiene can easily cause tooth decay resulting in severe toothaches. Your healthcare might recommend root canal surgery to avoid tooth extraction. Koreatown root canals can restore an infected tooth and preserve bone and gum health.

The procedure involves removing the infected part of your tooth, the dental pulp, and covering it with a dental crown.

Who is the right candidate for the procedure?

You are the right candidate for root canal surgery if you have an infected tooth causing severe pain. Other symptoms include heightened sensitivity to hot or cold foods, red or darkened gum tissues, pimple-like sores on your gums, and chipped or cracked teeth.

What happens during the procedure?

During your appointment, your specialist will apply a numbing agent to minimize pain and discomfort. Then, they will use a dental dam to protect the surrounding soft tissues and teeth. The dental dam also protects your mouth from small dental devices slipping down your throat. Using small dental tools, they create a small hole in the affected tooth to facilitate cleaning the tooth.

Your healthcare provider will use dental files to clear your chamber of the infected pulp. Once the pulp is out, and your tooth chamber is clean, your specialist will rinse the tooth with an antibacterial solution to prevent further infection.

When dry, your healthcare provider will fill the chamber with a special filling called gutta percha to seal the hole left by the decay. Afterward, your doctor will complete the procedure by placing a custom dental crown.

Preventive measures

You can prevent or avoid root canal surgery by taking good care of your teeth, including regular dental hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing will remove stuck food particles, which can lead to tooth decay. Rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash will prevent bacteria growth, protecting your tooth from infection.

Visiting your dentist regularly to get checked and attend professional teeth cleaning. Your healthcare provider can identify potential issues and offer treatment or tips to help you prevent other dental issues. Remember, after teeth cleaning, you can receive fluoride rinses to strengthen your teeth.

Recovery

Usually, recovery after root canal surgery will take a few days, especially if you have no complications or infections. Your dentist surgeon might recommend waiting until the numbness wears off before eating to avoid biting the inside of your mouth. You can eat soft foods while avoiding hard and sticky foods to prevent infections. To combat the pain after surgery, your healthcare provider can prescribe painkillers.

During recovery, you should rest or sleep a lot to recover quickly. Since you might experience swelling in the treatment area, you must consider sleeping with your head elevated to reduce fluid retention and swelling.

If you have severe dental decay and tooth pain, visit WPD Dental Group for root canal surgery. The available dentists and team will thoroughly examine your mouth before offering treatment and offer preventive tips to avoid recurrence. Call or book your appointment online and reduce your risk of tooth extraction.