Root Canal
Root Canal Specialist Gulfport, Mississippi
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment, also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy, is used to save an infected or damaged tooth and avoid having to remove it. This becomes necessary when a neglected cavity reaches all the way to the pulp at the center of the tooth and becomes infected. Gulf Coast Dental recommends regular cleanings and checkups to detect and prevent problems early on.
Trauma can also cause the nerve of a tooth to be deeply damaged. Once this occurs, the pulp becomes infected, even extending through the root tip, and it begins to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is called an abscess). By the time the pulp is infected, it must be treated and cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system, making it very dangerous and painful. Symptoms of infected pulp may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain with biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms, and you are unaware of any problem until a checkup.
Root canal procedure
A root canal is performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) is filled to prevent any further infection. Crowns are usually recommended to cover and restore a tooth after root canal therapy.
Does insurance cover root canals?
In most cases this procedure is covered by insurance; however, this is going to vary depending on your individual dental insurance provider. Most plans can cover approximately 50% to 90% of your cost once the deductible is met, but keep in mind this is going to vary greatly. You will need to contact your insurance provider to ask for any specifics as to what they will cover.
Post-treatment care
Post-treatment care after a root canal procedure is critical to recovery as your body will naturally begin to undergo the healing process. Lasting up to a few days, you may feel tenderness temporarily in your jaw, so it’s important to veer your diet towards softer foods until a full recovery has been made. However, if you feel extreme aches and pain in your tooth for more than a few days, you will need to contact our local dentist office immediately for diagnostics.
Guidelines for post-treatment root canal care
- Try not to eat until the numbness in your mouth wears out.
- Do not bite or chew on your treated or retreated tooth.
- Continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would.
- Follow up after the procedure with your specialist to ensure your root canal is healing properly.
For more information about root canal treatment, or other dental procedures, please contact our Gulfport dentist office at 228-832-3231.
