Root Canal Therapy – Aurora, CO

Your dentist will provide instructions for you to follow before your procedure so that you’ll be ready to go when you arrive. If you’ll be sedated during your appointment, you might be asked to fast for a few hours beforehand to reduce the risk of nausea. Otherwise, you should plan to eat a healthy meal that day. Avoid consuming alcohol or using tobacco products because these are known to interfere with the topical anesthetics that will likely be used.

You might also want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol or ibuprofen right before your appointment to reduce the discomfort and inflammation that can occur afterward.

Also, remember to get a good night’s sleep so that you’ll be less anxious during your visit.

The answer to this question varies from person to person because it depends on your circumstances. They generally last between 30 to 90 minutes, but your dentist can let you know in advance how long they expect your specific procedure to take. Some factors that impact the timeframe include:

• The severity of your condition. If your tooth is overly damaged, it may take longer to clear away all the decay and debris.
• Where the tooth is located. Teeth in the back of your mouth are harder to access and disinfect than the front ones, so they’ll naturally take longer to clean.
• The number of roots. The more passageways your tooth has, the longer it will take your dentist to clear them all out.

In the past, root canals earned a reputation for being a long and hurtful surgery. Thanks to more recent advancements in dental technology and techniques, that’s not the case today. More often than not, the procedure alleviates more throbbing than it causes.

Typically, you won’t feel anything during the procedure itself because you’ll be numbed or sedated first. Then, after it’s complete, it’s normal to experience moderate aches and swelling for a few days. These symptoms are usually mild enough to be handled with over-the-counter pain medications and should dissipate over time.

If for any reason your discomfort persists or progresses after three days, please call us so we can ensure that everything is healing as intended.

The best way to avoid a root canal is to practice consistent oral hygiene habits at home to prevent dental problems like cavities and gum disease. You should thoroughly brush and floss your teeth twice daily to clear away back and bacteria buildup, and rinse with mouthwash to kill unwanted germs.

In addition to that, you should maintain regular checkups every 6 months so we can monitor your dental condition and address tooth decay before it progresses to the point that a root canal becomes necessary.

Finally, it helps to avoid overly sugary or acidic foods which contribute to cavities. Try to stick to a more wholesome diet that supports your teeth and gums.  Also, drinking water in place of sugary or alcoholic beverages can keep your mouth clear of particles and food debris that attract unhealthy microbes.

There’s a common misconception that a severely decayed or damaged tooth always hurts. However, that’s not the case! For example, if the infection is left alone to develop, it will eventually “kill” the nerve of the tooth, preventing it from being able to register pain. That’s why we need to look for other warning signs of trouble, including dark discoloration, inflamed gums, and persistent dental sensitivity. Simply put, even if the situation doesn’t feel urgent because you aren’t experiencing any soreness or discomfort, it’s important to schedule the necessary restorative care right away.

Although antibiotics are often used in tandem with root canal treatment, they aren’t an adequate replacement. That’s because the medication cannot travel to the pulp of your tooth via your bloodstream.  In order to eliminate the infection and restore the look, health, and function of your tooth we need to actually remove the diseased, damaged, and otherwise compromised tissue.

Since your teeth cannot heal themselves, the longer you wait, the worse the root of the problem will get. In fact, it’s only a matter of time until the damage is so extensive that we will have no choice but to extract your tooth. So, even if you’ve adjusted to the pain or your symptoms seem to have gone away, it’s important that you move forward with root canal treatment – it’s the last chance we have to save your tooth!

Note: If you have any reservations about root canal treatment – whether it’s about the procedure itself or the cost – don’t hesitate to let our Aurora dental team know! From there, we can determine how to move forward, whether that’s adding sedation dentistry to your treatment plan or reviewing the financial solutions outside of dental insurance, like CareCredit.

The myth that root canals make you sick stems from a study conducted back in the 1920s. Although the examiner was a dentist, his claims stem from poorly designed research. In the years since, his theory has been debunked several times, and there currently isn’t any scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to an increased risk of disease. Quite the opposite: neglecting to get this restorative service can cause the damage to spread to your surrounding teeth and gums as well as the rest of your body.

Sadly, many patients feel like they can’t share their fears, reservations, and any other emotions they are feeling with their dental team. However, we genuinely want to know what concerns you have! That way, we can address them, answer questions, and find a solution. For example, if you struggle with dental-related anxiety or need a little extra help staying calm in the treatment chair, we can see if you’re a candidate for sedation dentistry and, if you are, add it to your treatment plan.