At RSN Dental PC, we provide endodontic treatments to patients in Staten Island. Endodontic treatments, such as a root canal, can help patients recover from tooth infections and help maintain optimal oral health. If you’re dealing with chronic tooth pain, reach out to us right away. We will schedule an appointment and provide the treatment you need.
Why do most people need a root canal?
When a tooth becomes infected, that infection can spread into the center of the tooth. This area is called the dental pulp. Inside of the dental pulp is the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. All of the sensitive areas of the tooth are contained here. As such, when the area becomes infected it can be incredibly painful, requiring immediate treatment. We can perform a root canal quickly on people living in and around the Staten Island area.
How does the treatment work?
A root canal endodontic procedure works by creating a small hole in the tooth so that all of the infected areas can be removed. The dental pulp is removed, and oftentimes so are the roots. You only need your tooth roots to feel sensations like hot and cold and for the tooth to grow in. Once it has fully matured, removing the roots will not directly harm the tooth. It can, however, prevent the further spread of infection so when it is necessary to remove the roots; we promptly do so. Once done, we will clean the area to ensure that the infection is gone. We will typically prescribe antibiotics, as well. This ensures that any lingering infection is eliminated.
In order to complete the root canal, we will seal up the hole and area where the dental pulp used to be. This is typically done with something called gutta-percha. This is a rubber-like substance that can help to stabilize the tooth now that a portion is missing. At RSN Dental PC, we will then use a filling or crown in order to further strengthen and protect the damaged tooth. Both fillings and crowns can now be created in a tooth-color. This means that regardless of where your infected tooth is located, a crown can be used, and it will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding teeth. Patients throughout the Staten Island area appreciate how natural their tooth looks once the procedure is complete.
Staten Island, New York Root Canal Treatment
We Offer Root Canal Treatment
Our office offers root canal treatments as part of our comprehensive dental services. If you’re dealing with chronic tooth pain, contact us right away so we can evaluate your teeth and provide the right course of treatment. For those needing a root canal, we perform them in our Staten Island office. After the procedure, Dr. Shikhmanter will carefully close the area and seal it with a crown or a filling. This step ensures protection against bacteria.
What about discomfort?
We work to help patients to feel comfortable during their root canal endodontics procedure by using sedation dentistry. We have a variety of ways that we can eliminate both discomfort and anxiety during a root canal. Whether a patient needs to take something ahead of time to relax or medication to numb the specific area that is being worked on, we can provide painless dentistry and help patients enjoy their dental treatments.
What are the advantages of this procedure?
In the past, many people would need to have their teeth pulled if they became severely infected or the dental pulp became inflamed. Now, those same teeth can be saved by performing a root canal. This is a far better option because it keeps the natural tooth in place. This is important for the shape of the face because as teeth fall out the muscles in the face can start to sag. While this is not particularly common with the loss of one tooth, it is when several become infected and fall out. By treating and saving an infected tooth, we are helping to preserve our patients' facial structure.
Another benefit is that once the root canal has been completed, and the filling or crown is in place; it is possible to eat like normal and without restrictions. Once the infection is gone, and the tooth is strengthened, it will behave like it used to. That makes it possible to bite down with normal force, chew, and maintain normal activities without worrying about the tooth. This helps patients throughout Staten Island get back to return to their busy schedules.
A restored tooth will look completely natural if a tooth-colored crown or filling is used to restore it. In fact, crowns can be created in the exact shade of the surrounding teeth so that it blends in perfectly. This way no one will know that you ever had a procedure completed. If, in fact, you had a root canal done previously, you may want to have the filling or crown around it replaced with today's version for an improved appearance.
Alternatively, if don't have a root canal endodontics procedure completed, the infected tooth will likely need to be pulled. This is essential for preventing the spread of infection. Once the tooth is removed it will need to be replaced. The options for doing so involve wearing a denture, getting a dental bridge or having dental implants installed. These are all viable solutions but take additional time, and the recovery period is longer since the procedures will take several steps. Therefore, one possible solution is for us to attempt to save your tooth by performing a root canal endodontics procedure. To learn more about this option call RSN Dental PC at (347) 802-8371 and schedule an appointment.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is an endodontic procedure that involves drilling a hole in the center of the tooth to remove an infection. If you have an infection that extends into the dental pulp of the tooth, Dr. Shikhmanter will perform an evaluation and remove the infection. The infection is treated by removing the infected roots to prevent further spreading.
When Do You Need a Root Canal?
Even if you faithfully brush and floss your teeth, you may experience a tooth infection. This can happen from an abscess, a cracked tooth, or nerve damage. The disease can spread deep into the tooth, harming the nerves and tissues in the tooth’s pulp. This can cause severe pain in your mouth and lead to more serious issues if left untreated.
Do I Need a Root Canal
If you are wondering, "my tooth hurts, do I need a root canal?" the answer is – not necessarily. We know that your tooth could hurt for several reasons, including:
- Food is stuck in between your teeth or in between the ridges on the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- You could have a cavity.
- Your tooth could have been chipped or cracked.
- You may be suffering from enamel erosion.
In these scenarios, we can treat the problem without needing to perform a root canal. For example, we can clean your teeth and remove any food particles causing discomfort. If you have a cavity, we can remove the decay and place a filling at our family dentist office. This is done quickly and is far less invasive than a root canal. Simultaneously, if your tooth is chipped or cracked, we can restore it using dental bonding or dental veneers. If you are dealing with erosion, you may need dental crowns to protect your teeth. We also restore teeth on a daily basis and have several ways of doing so.
Other Factors You Need to Consider
However, there are many times where a root canal is the right treatment option, so to answer the question, "my tooth hurts, do I need a root canal?" we must also look at the surrounding circumstances.
How long has your tooth been hurting?
When you visit our dental office in Staten Island, NY, we need to know how long you have been dealing with this issue and whether the pain came on suddenly or if it has built up over time. This will help us in determining what the source of the discomfort is and what our treatment plan needs to be.
What level of pain are you in?
At RSN Dental PC we regularly ask patients about their pain and whether or not it is manageable. If it is only slight discomfort, you may be able to visit our Staten Island dentist practice and have tooth decay removed. In many cases, a toothache is caused by a cavity that can be treated without the need for a root canal. However, we find that intense pain can often be due to an infection severe enough to warrant a root canal.
When to Call Our Emergency Dentist Office
If you have any of these symptoms, you should call our emergency dentist office at (347) 802-8371 and schedule an appointment to be seen right away.
- Your face is swollen. In this scenario, you could have a severe infection and require an immediate root canal. As a Staten Island dentist near you, we can quickly examine and treat you.
- You are having difficulty swallowing. In this case, you need to be treated by our emergency dentist office immediately. Do not delay or take any chances with this particular symptom. It is possible to develop a dental abscess, an infection that can spread from your root canal to the floor of your mouth and even into your neck. This requires urgent care.
- You cannot bite down without pain. In this case, your tooth could be infected and require a standard root canal. If so, we can perform the procedure quickly.
- Your tooth is changing color. Another sign of an infection is if the tooth begins to change color. In this case, it may appear gray or dull, and performing a root canal could be necessary for restoring the health of your tooth.
The Need for a Root Canal Procedure
The root canal is a crucial procedure for removing infected dental pulp from within a tooth. Beneath the outer shell of the tooth, known as the enamel, is the dentin and then the dental pulp. The dental pulp contains the blood vessels and nerves within each tooth. If the dental pulp becomes infected, then the patient will begin to experience incredible amounts of pain.
Thus, a root canal procedure is necessary to remove the dental pulp and ensure the infection has not spread to other areas of the mouth. In fact, a regular dentist may not be enough to treat the root canal and the patient may need to see an endodontist. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in maintaining teeth by treating the soft inner tissue of the teeth.
People may even avoid seeking proper treatment due to believing these myths about root canals. There are several myths about root canals that people still believe. Below are the myths and the truths behind each of them.
#1. Root canals are painful
The truth is that root canals are not painful like people believe. Most professional endodontists will use anesthesia to numb the area of the procedure and help the patient relax. Thanks to the anesthesia, the patient will not feel any pain during the procedure and the endodontist can proceed without issue.
Following the procedure, the patient may feel some level of soreness, but will be able to treat the soreness with pain killers or stronger medication the endodontist recommends.
#2. I will be unable to eat hard foods after a root canal procedure
Actually, a root canal will not prevent you from ever consuming your favorite foods again. With the root canal procedure, you will no longer feel pain since the procedure removes the nerve of the tooth. Once the endodontist covers the tooth back up, you will actually have less feeling within that tooth than before.
Immediately following the procedure, there may be a few days in which you need to eat carefully and avoid biting directly on hard foods with the tooth. However, after this period, you will be able to eat what you want when you want. While a dental crown that covers the tooth may require maintenance from time to time, you will be able to continue eating and living on your regular schedule.
#3. Root canals require the dentist to remove the entire tooth
This is false. In reality, we want to keep the natural teeth in the best shape possible and only recommend a complete extraction when it is completely necessary. Thus, an endodontist will use a root canal to remove the infected portion of the tooth and cover the tooth back up to ensure that the infection does not spread.
There is no reason to remove the entire tooth unless the infection consumes the tooth beyond repair and is spreading to other teeth. This is why we recommend that people seek treatment from an endodontist as soon as possible.
#4. Root canals cause illnesses in the patient
While some people may believe that root canals make you more susceptible to illnesses and disease, it is not true. There is no evidence that states this fact that professionals did not debunk. The truth is that you are more likely to get sick from leaving the infection in the tooth and not seeking a root canal procedure. If the infection is in an upper tooth and it spreads through the sinuses, a patient can die if he or she does not seek treatment.
With proper dental hygiene and regular checkups, we can help to keep your teeth healthy. In the case of a serious dental infection, an endodontist can help effectively remove the infection without having to remove the entire tooth.
#5. Root canals will take multiple appointments
While an endodontist may need two appointments, one to identify that a root canal is necessary and one to perform the root canal, a root canal will not require multiple visits. If the patient schedules an emergency appointment due to unbearable pain, then the endodontist will do everything possible to treat the tooth immediately.
If the patient needs more intensive endodontic surgery, then the endodontist will schedule a second appointment specifically for the surgery. It is understandable that people have busy schedules, but it will be extremely difficult to function each day with a dental infection.
We can treat your damaged or infected tooth, along with improving the appearance of your smile. We do so by offering additional solutions like teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental implants, dental crowns, and bridges. To schedule a tooth examination or to learn more about a root canal, call (347) 802-8371.