Root Canal Therapy in Monroe Township

Commonly Asked Questions

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

A root canal refers to a procedure used to eliminate the bacteria and infection from inside your tooth’s canal. This is the area that holds the nerve and pulp.

‍

While root canal therapy has a reputation for being painful, typically the symptoms from your infection are the cause of the pain. In most cases, root canals actually eliminate the infection and relieve your symptoms.

‍

We always do our best to keep you comfortable during your procedure. Dr. Virdee will make sure you are numb before she begins. If you feel nervous, we can also offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you relax. Our team is compassionate and helps our patients to feel calm and at ease no matter the treatment.

‍

How Does Root Canal Therapy Work?

Dr. H.K. Virdee, your Monroe Township dentist, begins by making a small access route into your tooth so she can clean out any bacteria and other signs of infection from inside your tooth.

We make this process easier by using a special handpiece designed for root canals. She will place additional medication inside your tooth, if necessary, and then seal it to prevent reinfection.

Your tooth will be completely numb during the entire treatment.

Without a root canal, you might lose your tooth and experience unnecessary pain. We will do our best to save your natural teeth whenever possible because losing teeth can cause a number of other problems such as bone loss and issues with your bite. We reserve extractions as a last resort for teeth that we cannot save.

After you have a root canal and finish healing, we may recommend a dental crown in order to help stabilize your tooth.

Root canals can make your teeth brittle and more susceptible to breaking. A crown disperses that force and helps to reinforce your tooth structure by placing a protective cover over the top of your tooth.

The dental crown is always colored and customized to look like your natural teeth.

We will also give you aftercare instructions so that you know how to care for your root canal tooth and what to expect after the procedure. You may experience some sensitivity, but it should subside within a few days. If you’re medically able, you may take a store-bought pain reliever, like Ibuprofen.

We will follow up with you to make sure you are healing properly and feeling well.

How Did I Get a Root Infection?

A few different situations can cause a deep infection within your tooth, including:

Trauma to the tooth
Untreated cavity

‍

Symptoms you may need a root canal include:

Gum and jaw swelling
A blister or raised surface on the gum
A toothache that can be severe

‍

If you’re very fortunate, your dentist finds your root infection during an exam. In this case, we are able to treat it before it causes symptoms or puts your tooth at significant risk.

What If My Tooth Cannot Be Saved with Root Canal Therapy?

Your tooth stands the best chance if you seek treatment in a timely manner. In other words, don’t take over-the-counter medicines to mask pain and avoid seeing the dentist. Always contact us at the first signs of trouble.

‍

However, if your tooth is badly damaged and your dentist discovers that it cannot be saved through root canal therapy, we recommend extraction. Extraction prevents the infection from spreading further and putting your other teeth at risk. It also eliminates toothache.

Following extraction, it is important to your well-being and your oral health to replace the lost tooth.

‍

Dental Implant

A dental implant is the option most recommended by dentists for tooth replacement. It is a titanium tooth root capable of integrating into the bone. Your dentist surgically places this root and allows for this integration—typically, several months. When integration is complete, we top your tooth root with a dental crown.

‍

With this option, you have a lasting prosthetic that does not require additional maintenance steps.

‍

Partial Denture

A partial denture is a plate or arch colored to match your gums. Your dentist customizes this arch with the teeth you need to fill smile gaps.

‍

With this option, you have a time-tested prosthetic that completes your smile.

‍

Dental Bridge

A dental bridge is a restoring tooth (or teeth) that stands in for those you’ve lost. This bridge is cemented between dental crowns, which lock the bridge to adjacent teeth. This allows the bridge teeth to fill in your smile.

‍

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic that requires only a few additional steps added to your oral care routine.

How Can I Lower My Risks for Root Infections?

You can lower your risks for root infections, cavities, and gum disease by seeing your Monroe Township dentist regularly for dental examinations and teeth cleanings. Like the American Dental Association, we recommend coming in every six months.

‍

If you’ve been diagnosed with a condition like gum disease, your schedule will be more customized until your dentist is able to better control the issue. For your part, you should be brushing and flossing your teeth twice every day or following each meal.

‍

When you visit your dentist regularly, we are able to correct emerging issues less invasively. And your teeth cleaning rids your teeth and gums of plaque and bacteria to help prevent many oral health conditions, including cavities. We can also lift away the particles that your toothbrush cannot reach.

‍

Besides excellent dental care and a fantastic at-home routine, you may also consider wearing a sports or mouthguard if you compete athletically and a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth.

‍

Finally, we recommend contacting a dental team member at the first signs of trouble. If you have swelling, a sore that won’t heal, or ongoing tooth sensitivity, we want to hear from you as soon as possible.

‍

Often, a root infection means a dental emergency in Monroe Township, NJ. We always work to see our patients who are suffering—or who have a tooth at risk—as soon as possible.

Root Canal Therapy in Monroe Township

Save Your Smile with a Gentle Root Canal

Root Canal Therapy in Monroe Township, NJ

Commonly Asked Questions

Call Your Monroe Township Dentist for an Evaluation

Quick Links

Resources

Social Media