Endodontic Services at Premier Dental Center
At Premier Dental Center New Braunfels, we are proud to offer endodontic procedures in-house. When tooth pain hits, you may be desperate to eliminate it. If it is a dental emergency, we recommend you contact our office as soon as possible so we can get you in for treatment. For serious issues, we may need to recommend tooth extraction as a last resort.
The primary goal of endodontics is to save your natural tooth and eliminate tooth pain that may be caused by the root or pulp (nerve) of the tooth itself. Our endodontist will determine what treatment is right for your unique situation based on current x-rays.
Who Needs an Endodontist?
Not everyone will need to be evaluated by an endodontist. For those with tooth pain or severe cavities, an endodontist can be your best bet when seeking relief from tooth pain. Our professional and experienced dental team will work together to determine if your tooth can be saved through endodontics with a root canal procedure. Here are some signs you may need this:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swollen or tender gums that can accompany tooth pain
- Tooth pain with any fever
- Darkening of tooth enamel
- Abscess or Infection
Root Canals
A root canal procedure sounds worse than it is. Now, with modern dental advances and anesthesia, a root canal can be done in a few short hours with little pain. Our office will provide localized anesthesia and nitrous oxide, but we are happy to discuss other sedation methods for more anxious patients.
The Root Canal Process
Getting a root canal is pretty straightforward. If you have additional questions about the steps, please ask us during your consult or at any time during the procedure. If you want to know whether or not a root canal would be effective, we can perform a Pulp Vitality Test to determine how healthy the pulp (nerve) of your teeth is and whether or not a root canal would be necessary or successful. Here is what you can expect:
- First, the dentist will review your x-rays to locate the infected tooth and determine the extent of infection/damage to the tooth, nerves, and surrounding bone.
- Next, our dental assistant will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth.
- Then, the endodontist will make an access hole in the top of the tooth.
- The pulp is then removed from the tooth and the inside is cleaned.
- Finally, the tooth is sealed. The endodontist may recommend waiting to seal the tooth for some time to administer medicine.
Endodontic Retreatment
While root canals have a 90% success rate of eliminating infection and allowing the tooth/gums to heal, there are rare instances when the endodontist will need to reopen the tooth to determine why an infection or pain is still present – this is called Endodontic Retreatment.
Schedule Your Root Canal in New Braunfels
Our skilled dental team offers root canals in New Braunfels in addition to follow-up endodontic procedures and exams. We are committed to providing a comfortable office for patients of all ages. If you have questions about the process of a root canal, or how to determine if you are a candidate for one, please schedule an appointment today. We look forward to caring for you.