Root Canal
Preserving teeth through root canal surgery can cause anxiety among patients, but Dr. Kleypas and our team strive to put every patient at ease throughout the procedure in order to provide a comfortable dental experience and pain-free results.
┃What is a root canal?
While the thought of a root canal may cause anxiety in many dental patients, the reality is that root canal treatment can be a quick and comfortable procedure resulting in saving your natural teeth and eliminating pain caused by inflamed or infected pulp. A root canal is a surgical procedure designed to restore and preserve diseased or decaying teeth by eliminating bacteria from the infected root canal and preventing reinfection of the tooth. During the treatment, the dentist will remove the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth, and then fill and seal the tooth to provide protection from any further infection.
A root canal has many benefits including:
preserving your natural teeth
restoring efficient, painless chewing
restoring normal biting force and sensation
protecting other teeth from excessive wear or strain
preserving natural appearance
If you are in the Cy-Fair area and are suffering from a diseased or decaying tooth, choosing to undergo a root canal procedure does not need to cause fear or apprehension. Our expert dentist, Dr. Kleypas, regularly perform root canal procedures in our office in Cypress, TX, as a restorative and preventative procedure resulting in pain-free oral health and tooth preservation.
Illustration showing the anatomy of a tooth and the location of root canal treatment. Because the root canal is directly connected to the nerve, inflammation or infection in the root canal can cause severe pain.
┃How do I know if I need a root canal? What alternatives do I have to a root canal?
In order to know whether or not you need to undergo root canal treatment to address your dental pain or concerns, you should schedule an exam with the dentist at our office in Cypress, TX. During your appointment, the dentist will take an X-ray of your teeth and gums to evaluate your condition and look for signs of infection or inflammation in your root canal. If inflammation is present and requires surgical intervention, the dentist will recommend a root canal and schedule an appointment for root canal treatment.
How do you know if you may be a candidate for a root canal? If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should request an appointment with Kleypas Family Dental to evaluate your condition and determine if you need a root canal:
Severe pain while chewing or biting
Pimples on the gums
A chipped or cracked tooth
Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
Swollen or tender gums
Deep decay or darkening of the gums
┃Will my root canal be painful? How long will recovery from my root canal take?
With the use of sedation dentistry, your root canal procedure can actually be a comfortable and pain-free experience. Before Dr. Kleypas begins the root canal treatment, you will receive anesthesia to numb your gums and surrounding region in the mouth. Once your anesthesia takes effect, the dentist will begin the process of eliminating the inflammation in your root canal and restoring and protecting the health of your tooth. At Kleypas Family Dental, our goal is to ensure your comfort while restoring your oral health.
Recovery from a root canal requires following any and all instructions given by your dentist at the completion of your root canal treatment. Numbness from anesthesia may take 2 to 4 hours to wear off, so eating is not advised until the numbness is gone.