Pineville Root Canals

Root canal therapy is a restorative procedure used to treat an infected tooth. Infected teeth are usually either caused by untreated decay or an oral injury that cracks the tooth and exposes the interior pulp. The inner-most layer of your tooth and is filled with tender nerves and blood vessels, and when a tooth is infected, it will become inflamed and cause symptoms like toothache, sensitivity, and discoloration. To prevent a necessary extraction, Dr. Babb will intervene with root canal therapy.

At Pineville Family Dentistry, we use numbing agents and sedation to ensure that you will not feel anything during your treatment. The root canal therapy process is quite straightforward, and usually only takes between 1-2 hours. First, Dr. Babb will clean your mouth, numb your tooth, and isolate it with a dental dam to prevent the spread of infected material. Next, The damaged pulp is removed, and the tooth is disinfected and sealed with a temporary crown or a filling to protect it from further damage. In most cases, you will need to come back in a few weeks to have a permanent crown placed and ensure that your restored tooth lasts for years to come.

If you have a persistent toothache or suspect that you may need root canal therapy, it is important to see Dr. Babb as soon as possible. Call us at (318) 704-5757 or stop by our office at 3310 Military Highway, Pineville, LA 71360 today!

A root canal is needed when your dental pulp has become infected or inflamed due to untreated tooth decay or dental trauma. While you can look out for the following symptoms that indicate a root canal is needed, be aware that not everyone experiences symptoms. 

You could experience no symptoms at all or you may experience pain that goes away, leading you to believe the problem went away too. When your tooth is infected and the pain stops, this only suggests that the nerves in the tooth have died. The infection, however, will ravage on and your tooth may end up needing to be extracted without treatment. 

Signs that you need a root canal:
‍
- Constant tooth pain that worsens when you eat or touch it
- Tooth sensitivity, especially to hot and cold food/drinks
- Darkening or discoloration of the tooth
- Abscess
- Swelling
- Cracked or damaged tooth (especially an exposed nerve)
- Swollen gums & face

No, a root canal will not cause you any pain because we will completely numb your mouth with a local anesthetic. Your mouth will be numb for several hours. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may feel some minor tenderness or tooth sensitivity as a result of the drilling and cleaning of your canals. 

This will subside within a few days and should be mild enough to be relieved with anti-inflammatory pain medication. If you are experiencing extreme or persistent pain after a root canal, contact us right away.

After a root canal procedure, your mouth will still be numb for several hours. Wait until the anesthetic has fully worn off before eating or drinking hot liquids. This is to prevent accidentally biting or burning yourself. 

Once your mouth is no longer numb, you can eat soft foods that require minimal chewing. Try to chew on the other side of your mouth. We would recommend that you avoid very hot foods and drinks for the first day. Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, and spicy foods. You should also not consume alcohol, as it can negatively impact healing and increase bleeding.

Normal symptoms in the first few days following a root canal include tenderness, minor pain, and swelling. You can brush and floss like normal, but be careful at the site of the root canal. Take anti-inflammatory pain medication as needed and keep your head elevated to reduce swelling.