Deep pain in your jaw means sleepless nights and an essential trip to the dentist. When you ignore it, you are risking more than just lost sleep. You’re risking your life.
Intense jaw pain that basic acetaminophen won’t numb often means you have a tooth infection. Left untreated, a tooth infection will cause sepsis and eventually death. You have the option of extraction or a root canal.
A local Katy dentist will be able to determine your best course of treatment if you do have an abscessed or infected tooth. Should you need a root canal, you should understand what the procedure entails and how to prepare for it.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about a root canal procedure.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal ultimately preserves your dead tooth. Essentially, a dentist mummifies your tooth rather than saving it.
When a dentist recommends a root canal, the tooth is too far gone to save. It has an infection and is dying. The root canal allows the basic structure of the tooth to stay intact so the dentist can place a crown on it.
You do have the option of extraction when you have a dead tooth. But then you will have a significant hole in your jaw and will need to fill it with something else like a bridge or a dental implant.
A root canal will cost you less than a tooth implant. It also is a much simpler procedure since a tooth implant requires drilling a hole in your jaw and often using bone grafts.
After the dentist has completed the root canal, they will affix a crown over the tooth structure. This crown preserves the integrity of your tooth and keeps it from breaking.
Modern root canals are not the torture treatment your parents may have experienced decades ago. They are similar to a routine filling, and often you can have them completed in one or two appointments.
Preparing For a Root Canal
Before you agree to a root canal, have a list of questions ready for your dentist. You will want to know, first, if the root canal is absolutely necessary. Trust your dentist’s opinion.
If you’re questioning your particular dentist, ask around. See what others have to say about the dentist so you can put your full trust in them.
Then, ask if the tooth would ever recover and not need a root canal. You also will want to know why the pulp died in the first place.
Ask about your options as well. Should you consider a dental implant at this point? Is that something you will have to consider eventually?
Ask about the infection as well. Can it and has it spread to other parts of your mouth or the bone?
Finally, ask the dentist about their qualifications. Should a specialist be conducting this procedure? How many root canals has this particular dentist done?
Root Canal Step by Step
The root canal is a fairly simple procedure. Here are the basic things that a dentist will do:
- Examine and take an x-ray of the tooth
- Make an opening in the crown of the tooth
- Clean out the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals
- Fill the tooth with a biocompatible material
That’s it. The procedure sounds much like having a cavity filled with the absence of a drill. The dentist then prepares to place the crown.
Crown that Tooth
After the dentist has completed the root canal, they will have to affix a crown over the tooth to protect its structure. The crown will also help the tooth function like all of the other molars you need to grind and chew your food.
Cost of a Crown
Without insurance, you will pay dearly for a crown. Plan on spending between $1,100 and $1,50 for each crown. The crown cost is on top of the cost of the root canal.
Dealing With the Pain
You will experience some discomfort after you have a root canal and a crown put in place. The sensitivity should last just a few days. Basic over-the-counter pain medication will help such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Losing Your Crown
Crowns are a permanent solution. In the right conditions, though, they can fall off. Sticky candy like taffy or caramel can suck the crown right off your tooth.
If you lose your crown, work to find it immediately. If you fear you swallowed it, call the dentist immediately. You may need to go to your doctor for an X-ray to ensure the crown did not go down your windpipe.
Then schedule an appointment with Cinco Ranch dentists or Katy Dental, the best dentist in Katy, TX.
Find your crown immediately. If you think you swallowed it, call your dentist or doctor right away. You may need to go in for an X-Ray to ensure it went down your esophagus, not your windpipe.
These dentists may even recommend the best dental implants Katy, Texas has. They would know. The Katy dental people understand their teeth.
Katy Dentist Who Cares
If you’re experiencing jaw pain or have lost a crown, contact the best Katy dentist, Katy Gentle Dentists. We care about the overall health of our patients and not just their teeth.
As a result, we will often work with health care providers to come up with the optimal diagnosis, care, and treatment of our patients.
Contact us for your complete dental care. We work hard to stay up to date on techniques and procedures that serve our patients. We use cutting-edge technology and a complete Comfort Menu to help you stay as relaxed as possible while we care for your teeth.