Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy in SoHo

Sometimes it isn’t until tooth pain has turned into an earache or you’ve lost a full night of sleep that you even consider looking into a root canal. Root canal therapy has gotten such a reputation that you may have been putting off treatment in the hopes that your symptoms resolve themselves. Thankfully, you have nothing to be afraid of. Root canal treatment is near painless thanks to modern medicine, and recovery is easier than ever.

Our endodontic dentists can perform a dental checkup and exam to determine if you need a root canal. If you do, we will walk you through the process to ensure you feel comfortable. You deserve a compassionate dentist who prioritizes your peace of mind as well as your physical health. At Greene Street Dental, we aim to provide kind and expert dental care.

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How Do I Know If I Need a Root Canal?

Your dentist is the best source of information for your specific health conditions; however, there are a few symptoms that may point to your need for root canal therapy. If you’re experiencing any of the following, visit our emergency dentist for a same-day root canal or tooth extraction:

  • Severe pain and sensitivity. If your pain has spread to other areas of your jaw or face, seek urgent dental care. This may be a sign that your tooth infection has spread.
  • Swelling or difficulty swallowing. An abscessed tooth may cause swelling in the jaw, cheeks, or throat.
  • Fever or nausea. A fever may indicate that your body is fighting off infection in other parts of your body.
  • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth. The infected tooth may smell or taste foul, especially if you bite down and rupture a fluid-filled abscess.

These symptoms mean that you need urgent medical attention; however, you may be able to schedule a root canal for the same week if you have a severe cavity that hasn’t yet formed an infection. See our dentist for cavity symptoms, and they can help you determine if you need a root canal.

A Pulpotomy Vs. a Root Canal

Sometimes, the infection has penetrated the dentin and has started doing its dastardly deeds on the pulp, but it hasn’t quite reached the roots. This means that a pulpotomy may be sufficient to treat the infection.

During a pulpotomy, the first few steps are the same:

  1. Diagnose the issue
  2. Drill into the tooth
  3. Get rid of decay
  4. Get rid of infected pulp

However, since the infection doesn’t go as deep, our dentist can then fill the tooth without extensively excavating and cleaning the root canals. Only a thorough dental exam will tell if a pulpotomy or a root canal treatment will be needed.

What Is the Root Canal Process?

The process may differ slightly depending on your situation and how serious your symptoms are; however, generally, your dentist will follow these steps:

  • Taking X-rays and other diagnostic tests
  • Administering local anesthetic through a shot in the gums and sometimes an oral sedative
  • Drilling into the tooth to reach the pulp
  • Removing decay in the dentin
  • Removing infected pulp
  • Cleaning the root canals with files and sterilizing fluids
  • Drying out the canals with paper
  • Checking with X-rays that all of the decay has been removed
  • Filling the canals with latex and dental cement
  • Filling the top of the tooth with typical dental filling materials

We may repeat one or more of these steps to make sure that your tooth is clean and free of infection. You may also be prescribed pain medication and antibiotics to treat your remaining symptoms and to help with your root canal recovery.

Do You Have to Get a Crown After a Root Canal?

You won’t always have to get a dental crown after a root canal. Crowns are meant to strengthen teeth that are weak or unstable. So, if too much of your dentin has been removed by drilling or lost to decay, our dentist may also fit you for a crown on the same day as your root canal.

Check out our other endodontic services

Endodontics

Pulpotomy

Our Endodontic Dentist Can Perform Your Root Canal in SoHo

Whether you need a same-day root canal or can wait until your scheduled appointment, our team is equipped to provide the best quality of care. At our office in Lower Manhattan, our dentists train in a variety of areas, including endodontics. They undergo hundreds of hours of specialized learning to better treat conditions like yours.

For dental emergencies, walk into our office or call to schedule your same-day appointment. You can also book online or call (212) 226-5777 to get on the schedule.