Overcoming the Fear of Root Canal Treatment in Houston

When a tooth infection has reached the roots of the teeth or the dental pulp inside, a root canal treatment is often a necessary procedure to rid the infection, relieve the pain, and restore teeth to their former functionality.

The procedure, while once a very unpleasant one, has come a long way thanks to the advancement of medicine and the use of sedation. Most times, a root canal can be completed in a single visit, with relief coming immediately after.

Anatomy of a Tooth

The inner portion of your teeth, the dental pulp, is protected by two layers, the dentin and enamel, and the enamel is protected by a coating of minerals.

When the mineral coating wears thin from lack of oral hygiene, the enamel will begin to break down. As the enamel becomes thin, the dentin will become exposed.

If the dentin becomes exposed, any sensation experienced by it will be amplified. Cold and hot temperatures will feel much stronger and pressure against it can become very painful.

Bacteria that reaches and begins damaging the dentin can ultimately reach the dental pulp, which is the core of the tooth. The dental pulp contains all the blood vessels and nerves of your teeth and is very sensitive to any sensations.

When infected, the dental pulp can become very painful, resulting in a pounding toothache. If this occurs, a root canal treatment becomes necessary to stem the pain and fix the problem.

Root Canal Procedures

●     After a detailed x-ray of the tooth, a hole is drilled into the top of the tooth to allow access to the pulp chamber at the core. Through here, all of the pulp and infectious material inside the pulp chamber and roots will be removed.

●     Usually by the time of a root canal treatment procedure, there isn’t much dental pulp left, and all that remains is a bacterial colony. Since the pulp is mostly dead, there aren’t many living nerve strands remaining, so most sensation is already gone.

●     Even though most of the sensation in the affected tooth is gone, we still implement the use of a local anesthetic and sedation dentistry to further reduce any sensation that may be felt during the procedure.

●     The sedation dentistry will help keep you relaxed and allow us to more quickly treat the problem so you can be in and out very quickly.

●     Once the hole is made and the dental pulp is accessible, we begin removing the pulp inside the pulp chamber and any roots that have been infected. Using the x-ray as a guide, we remove all the damaged pulp and preserve any pulp that can be saved.

●     After clearing away the infected tissue, the now hollowed tooth will be filled with gutta-percha, which is a rubber compound, along with a standard amalgam or porcelain filling.

Post-Procedure and Re-treatment

After the procedure is complete, you’ll find that the pain that once plagued your tooth is gone, though it is best to wait until the tooth has fully healed before using it to chew again.

It’s not very common, but sometimes an infected root may escape the view of the tooth x-ray, and could cause issues later. If this occurs, a second procedure, known as a root canal re-treatment, may be necessary.

In any case, you may also be given an antibiotic to combat any infection that could still be lurking that would cause further issues.

When to Visit the Kids Dentist

Taking care of your child’s teeth and gums is an important part of early development. Children’s teeth need to be well cared for in order to develop properly, reducing the likelihood for misshapen mouths caused by teeth growing in at odd angles or decay causing infections.

It’s extremely important to teach your child the proper way to care for their mouth as when they get older, they will still need to exercise good care to keep their smile from fading in the decades to come.

Meeting the Best Dentist in Houston

The first visit to a pediatric dentist should be a pleasant experience.

Children want to feel safe wherever they go, and getting briefly introduced to a new face and immediately engaging in a dental procedure is going to make them fear future visits.

Instead, we like to introduce them as if they were meeting family members.

           

We like to introduce your child to our dental staff and show them around the office in an effort to familiarize them with the location and make them feel like it’s just a fun family trip somewhere.

Building a relationship with the child garners trust and relieves anxiety about visiting the kids dentist. We recommend introducing your child to us very early on, preferably right after their first tooth comes in or by the age of 12 months, whichever comes first.

We want to start them early so as to check the development of their teeth and ensure that they will continue to come in without issue. Should it be necessary, we may also be able to determine if corrective measures such as braces may need to be taken later in life.

Pediatric Dentist Care Standards

To become a dentist, there are many standards that must be met and certifications that must be required.

To become a pediatric dentist, the standards and certifications are much stricter and require an unrelenting devotion to the care of children. As a result of this more involved level of care, we take great pride and care when it comes to children’s teeth.

Along with general care, we specialize in sedation dentistry for children. Keeping your child calm and relaxed helps the procedure go by quicker and without any fuss.

The Importance of Checkups

Getting your teeth checked out every six months and getting x-rays every 12 months will go a long way toward monitoring the health of your teeth.

For children, these periodic checkups are even more important as their teeth are coming in for the first or second time. In addition to the benefit of a standard checkup, the visits will reinforce the idea that a visit to the kids dentist is not something to be feared. Proactive pediatric dentistry will be of greater benefit than reactive dentistry.

When a child is familiar with their dentist from repeated visits, there becomes a greater chance that they will look forward to the visit more than a child who goes infrequently or has never gone at all.

We will always provide a welcoming atmosphere for them and do everything we can to make them comfortable. In addition, we will teach them ways to take good care of their teeth at home, so their twice yearly visits are never anything more than a cleaning and checkup.

Centrally Located Galleria Dentist

At Naba Dental, we focus heavily on conservative, proactive dentistry. This form of dentistry is especially helpful for children as it instills a desire to preserve the teeth.

We will, of course, provide care needed for root canal treatments in Houston or dental sealants, and we will always provide these with the same level of care and comfort as we do with conservative measures.

Children are very important to us, and we will go the extra mile to help them keep their smiles.