Root Canal Therapy – Lenox Hill, NY
Fast Relief for Your Toothache
Are you currently suffering through a toothache that’s keeping you up at night and interfering with your ability to enjoy your daily life? Does your tooth feel extra sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages? Is there dark discoloration in and around your hurting tooth? If so, you might need root canal therapy in Lenox Hill, NY. Although this procedure is rumored to be painful, it actually relieves your toothache and saves your natural tooth from needing to be extracted. To learn more about root canal therapy and how it can benefit you, keep reading below, or just give us a call. Our friendly and helpful team will be more than happy to help!
What Is a Root Canal?
During a root canal, your dentist in Lenox Hill will remove the pulp, or the inner chamber, of your tooth, where the nerve is located. Then, the pulp chamber and canals of your tooth are cleaned to remove all traces of infection. The inside of the tooth is filled with a rubber-like gutta-percha material and sealed into place with cement. Since the tooth is often left brittle and weak after root canal therapy, a filling or dental crown is usually placed for protection.
Are Root Canals Painful?
While root canals have a daunting reputation, they’re actually not painful at all. Most of the pain associated with root canals comes from the toothache that warrants the procedure. We’ll make sure your that your mouth is numbed up with plenty of local anesthetic before we begin treatment so that you won’t feel a thing.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal?
If your tooth is infected with serious decay, then not getting it treated could result in the infection spreading to other teeth or even the bone supporting your teeth. You could then end up losing other teeth! For this reason, you should alert us if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain when biting down
- Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks
- Dark discoloration of the tooth or surrounding gums
- Chip or fracture in the tooth, however minor
- Persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
Tips for Recovering from a Root Canal
While the root canal itself isn’t painful, you can expect some soreness and discomfort for a few days after your procedure. Here are a few tips to manage that:
- Avoid chewing with your treated tooth for a few days
- Abstain from strenuous exercise for a while, as that can cause the site to bleed and make you feel achy
- Take the rest of the day to rest at home
- Take prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication as directed on the bottle
- Give us a call if your pain
- Stick to a soft food diet for a few days
- Don’t chew anything hard or sticky with your temporary crown