What is a Root Canal?

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What is a Root Canal?
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Some patients feel fearful when they hear the
term root canal because they arent certain what
it is or why they need to have one. They may have
also heard from family or friends that the
procedure is painful. Even though no dental
surgery is completely pain-free, Dr. Ahmad
applies a numbing anesthetic to ensure that you
are as comfortable as possible. In reality,
living with an infected tooth is much more
painful than undergoing a root canal. Having the
procedure done also helps to prevent more serious
dental problems later.
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What Happens During a Root Canal?So what is a
root canal, anyway? Thats a very good question.
A root canal is a dental surgery that removes
infected pulp from the root of your tooth. After
Dr. Ahmad completes this process, he cleans your
tooth from the inside and then creates a seal to
protect against bacteria. He also places a crown
on the tooth that received a root canal. The
crown helps to decrease your pain as well as
allowing you to speak and chew without
complications.
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Symptoms of an Infected ToothWhen the nerves of
a tooth sustain damage due to disease, decay, or
trauma, it results in the formation of pus and
possible infection. The pus can also cause damage
to the bone surrounding the tooth, resulting in
an abscessed tooth. Since its not immediately
obvious this has happened, its important to know
the symptoms of infection. These include
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1. The tooth is throbbing and painful whether or
not you touch it2. The pain may increase when
you stand up, lie down, or drink a beverage not
at room temperature3. The infected tooth is
darker than the others4. You notice a small sac
filled with pus near your gum line5. The
swelling extends beyond your tooth to your face
or neck6. A persistent bad taste in your
mouth7. Pain when biting your food
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These symptoms dont necessarily mean that you
need a root canal. However, you should contact
All Star Dental to report any unusual symptoms.
Dr. Ahmad will examine your tooth and gums before
recommending a root canal or another type of
dental treatment. Because a small percentage of
patients with an infected tooth have no symptoms
at all, its essential to keep up with your
regular hygiene appointments. This enables Dr.
Ahmad to spot the infection and treat it
immediately.
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