Inside every tooth, beneath the enamel and dentin, is a soft core called the pulp — nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When deep decay, a crack, or an injury lets bacteria reach the pulp, it becomes inflamed or infected. That infection is what produces the distinctive, persistent ache of a dying tooth, and it does not resolve on its own.
Root canal therapy removes the infected pulp, cleans and shapes the narrow canals inside the roots, and seals them so bacteria cannot return. The tooth stays in place. Dr. Palmer performs root canal treatment at our Houston, TX practice to relieve the pain and keep the natural tooth doing its job.
Only an examination and X-ray can confirm it, but these are the signs worth calling about:
It is also possible to need treatment with no symptoms at all — an infection can be quiet and still be destroying bone, which is one of the reasons routine X-rays matter.
This is the question patients ask most, and the reputation is out of date. The severe pain people associate with root canals is the pain of the infection, not of the treatment. With modern anesthesia, the procedure itself feels much like having a filling placed, and most patients notice their pain drops significantly once the infected tissue is removed.
Mild tenderness for a few days afterward is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
If you feel anxious about treatment, nitrous oxide is available to help keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.
Numbing and isolation. The area is thoroughly numbed and the tooth is isolated to keep it clean and dry during treatment.
Accessing and cleaning the canals. Dr. Palmer makes a small opening in the crown of the tooth, removes the infected pulp, then cleans and shapes each canal.
Sealing. The cleaned canals are filled with a biocompatible material and sealed to prevent reinfection.
Restoring the tooth. A tooth that has had a root canal is more brittle and usually needs a crown to protect it from fracturing. With CEREC® technology, that crown can often be made and placed in the same visit.
Extraction is faster and sometimes it is the right answer. But a natural tooth root maintains the jawbone around it, keeps neighboring teeth from shifting, and preserves a bite that already works. Once a tooth comes out, replacing it properly — with an implant and crown — is typically a longer and more expensive path than treating it was.
Dr. Palmer will tell you honestly when a tooth can be saved and when it cannot.
If you have a tooth that aches, throbs, or stays sensitive long after hot or cold, call Palmer Dental Group of Houston at 713-375-1777.