Root canals can mean the difference between losing and saving a tooth. Call us today if you have a toothache.

Having Tooth Pain and Think You Need a Root Canal?

Root Canal Treatment

Few patients are ever excited to learn that a root canal is necessary. This standard dental procedure’s folklore and myth are full of horror stories fit for a movie screen.

Yet like many scary movies, the stories behind root canals are fiction. Many Oklahoma City patients can turn a painful situation around by having a root canal when they need one. Proper treatment can relieve throbbing tooth pain. Root canals are a signal that you need professional dental care, and healing is the next step.

Have you ever had a cavity filled? Root canals feel similar.

Visiting your Oklahoma City community dental clinic, Ross Allen, DDS, is part of a healthy oral health plan. Our dental team is friendly and compassionate; we never judge patients who haven’t seen a dentist in a long time. We are here to help.

Dr. Ross Allen offers preventative and general dentistry to keep teeth infection-free. If a root canal is needed, we can care for patients in the safety of our welcoming dental office. On rare occasions, we may refer patients to a specialist endodontist for treatment.

What Are Root Canals?

While we have all heard of root canals, not all of us know much more about the procedure until it introduces itself to them in the form of tooth pain.

Cavities left untreated can create a small hole in the tooth's inner part that can allow bacteria through. There are many ways teeth can be infected, but inflammation in the nerve only has one treatment option.

At Ross Allen, DDS, we always fight to keep your natural existing teeth, if possible. In some instances, we must remove the tooth to stop infection or decay from spreading. Dental extractions are a last resort to keep your full smile. Root canals allow us to fight oral health issues before dental extraction might be necessary.

When Do I Need a Root Canal?

Most dental issues are very quiet; many do not have symptoms until the problem is advanced. Infected teeth might begin with a small tooth pain, which quickly becomes unbearable. Other signs include:

Sudden tooth pain
Sudden discoloration of the tooth
Tooth sensitivity
Pain while eating
Swollen and bleeding gums
White gums

While you can tough out some health conditions, root canal infections should never be ignored. Symptoms will start small and start getting worse over time. Without treatment, a dental extraction may be necessary.

What Is the Root Canal Process?

During the root canal, Dr. Allen gets rid of any decayed or infected tissue within the tooth before sealing it to prevent further infection. Once the inflamed tissue is removed, the tooth pain should recede.

We start by numbing the area so that the patient feels minimal discomfort.

Once patients feel comfortable and numb, we will start removing the infected inner portion. As soon as we have removed the infection, we will medicate and seal the tooth.

We may recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth while eating and chewing.

Is Your Tooth in Pain?

If you are experiencing tooth pain, don’t wait for it to get worse. Call us right away to manage your tooth pain and protect your dental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form. "Root canal" is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth.

The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the root canal. The tooth's nerve lies within the root canal. A tooth's nerve is not vitally important to a tooth's health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory – to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the tooth.

Sometimes no symptoms are present; however, signs to look for include

Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure
Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums
A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums

Why do root canals have such a bad reputation?

The vast majority of root canal procedures proceed painlessly, both during and after each visit! With modern techniques and anesthetics people report that having a root canal treatment is about the same as having a cavity filled. On the other hand, some people present with what we call a hot tooth. A hot tooth is one in which the nerve is alive, but badly inflamed. The tooth is generally already very painful, especially to hot or cold stimuli. These are the ones that require multiple anesthetic injections to get numb.

Why would someone need a root canal?

Root Canal Therapy (Endodontic treatment) is necessary when the nerve (pulp) becomes inflamed or infected. The most common reasons for inflammation or infection are deep cavities, repeated dental procedures, cracks or chips. Trauma can also cause inflammation and often shows up as discoloration of the tooth. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Ross Allen DDS
Dentist

I'm Dr. Ross Allen. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. I'd like to tell you a little about myself and our staff. I grew up in Jenks, Oklahoma. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in chemical engineering before dental school. I attended the University of Oklahoma for dental school, as well.

In our practice, we focus on providing quality dental care for the entire family. I believe in providing different treatment options based on patients' needs and desires. I am a member of the Oklahoma ...