If the inside of a tooth is infected or inflamed, your pain likely won’t go away without a root canal treatment. At Lashen Dental Group in Denville, New Jersey, expert dentists Stephen Lashen, DDS, Jessica Klein, DMD, and Jason Klein, DMD, provide root canal treatment to help you avoid a worsening infection or an abscess. To learn more about root canal treatment and when you need one, call Lashen Dental Group or reserve an appointment online today.

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When is root canal treatment necessary?

Root canals are treatments that are necessary when the pulp of your tooth becomes infected or inflamed. The enamel is the solid shell around your tooth, the dentin is a hard layer below it, and the pulp is the inside soft layer composed of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

If you need a root canal, you’ll know right away. The symptoms of a tooth injury or infection that needs a root canal include:

  • Severe tooth pain when biting down
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
  • Deep chips or cracks in your teeth
  • Swollen or irritated gums
  • Darkening gums
  • Pimplelike lesions on your gums

If you don’t get a root canal for a tooth that needs one, the infection can develop into an abscess, or a pocket of pus. If you don’t treat an abscessed tooth, the infection can spread to other parts of your body.

How does root canal treatment work?

The team at Lashen Dental Group offers root canal treatments to address infected, irritated, inflamed, or abscessed pulp.

During a root canal, they make a hole in the chewing surface of the affected tooth through which they can access the pulp. Using small tools, they carefully remove the pulp, leaving a clear canal inside your tooth. They sanitize the inside of your tooth to prepare it to be filled.

The team uses a biocompatible, rubberlike material called gutta-percha to fill the inner chamber of your tooth after a root canal. At a final appointment, they prepare your tooth for a crown to protect and strengthen the tooth. Once the crown is cemented in place, you can use your tooth normally without pain or risk of breaking it.

How should I care for my mouth while recovering from root canal treatment?

Your dentist at Lashen Dental Group gives you instructions to care for your tooth as you recover from your root canal and await a crown. They’ll tell you to:

  • Avoid solid foods
  • Brush your teeth gently
  • Floss between your teeth once a day
  • Take any medications as prescribed
  • Call for another appointment if the pain lasts longer than three days

Following your root canal, your dentist helps you book a follow-up appointment. At this appointment, you’ll get an X-ray. Your dentist uses it to view the inside of your tooth and make sure all signs of the infection are gone.

To find out if your symptoms indicate the need for a root canal, call Lashen Dental Group or book an appointment online today.