Root Canal Therapy
Treating St. Louis, MO Teeth With Root Canals
When you receive root canal therapy, the staff at St. Louis Hills Dental Group will make sure you’re as comfortable as possible before, during, and after the treatment. Our talented dentists keep the entire process as quick and simple as they can for minimal recovery time and discomfort.
When Is A Root Canal Required For Your Tooth
You require root canal surgery when a tooth’s soft tissue gets infected and starts to decay. Diseased tissue and pockets of pus may build up over time, leading to greater sensitivity and discomfort in the tooth’s pulp. Besides internal infection, external trauma to your tooth from an injury or accident can also put your soft tissue at risk and result in similar pain, sensitivity, and problems. If you don’t address the infection in a timely manner, the tooth’s surrounding tissue can become infected and lead to an abscess.
Root Canals: What To Expect
During the root canal procedure, we remove the diseased tissue from the affected area to stop the infection from spreading and restore the tooth to good health. Root canal therapy typically involves between one and three visits to our dental practice. Our team starts by creating an X-ray and examining the results to verify the shape of your root canals. After that, the dentist administers local anesthetic to the area of concern. We drill a small hole through the top of your tooth to access its inner chamber. We then remove the infected tissue and cleanse and disinfect the chamber. Following that, we reshape the tiny canal and fill the cleansed chamber with an elastic material. The dentist administers medication that ensures any infection is kept at bay. If we deem it necessary, we’ll temporarily fill the drilled hole until the dentist applies a permanent seal using a dental crown that’s custom-fitted and matches the color of your natural teeth.
A Less Stressful Process For Your Root Canal
If you’re suffering from constant pain around a tooth, it’s crucial that you visit a professional to evaluate and diagnose the issue. You might be experiencing a benign toothache, but due to the severity of a tooth infection, it’s vital to assess and treat the problem properly. Our dental staff will evaluate your issue and recommend the best treatment for your condition, as well as explore any less invasive alternatives to root canal therapy. If we decide a root canal is the best action, we’ll explain the process and administer local anesthesia when necessary to keep you comfortable and lessen the stress of the process.
Tips To Prevent Tooth Infections
Good oral hygiene is vital to prevent a tooth infection that leads to requiring root canal therapy. Be sure to brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day and floss once daily. Couple that with regular teeth cleanings and checkups at St. Louis Hills Dental Group to reduce the risk of needing invasive dental surgery. For avid contact sport players, we advise you to wear a fitted mouthguard to minimize the chance of sustaining tooth trauma.
For quick relief from the pain and damage of a sudden dental injury or malady, give us a call and schedule an appointment. Reach out to our office by calling 314-644-0440 at your earliest convenience!