Root Canals in Florham Park, NJ
If you have a severe toothache, there is a possibility that your tooth is infected and that you need a root canal to restore your tooth back to health. Fortunately, at A Healthy Smile Dentistry, Dr. Gohard can provide you with a root canal in Florham Park area to relieve you of your toothache and restore your tooth. Without a root canal, your tooth may need to be extracted. With our holistic approach, we remove the infected pulp from your tooth with minimal damage to your tooth. See how root canal therapy can benefit your dental health.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is an endodontic treatment, meaning it is a treatment for the inside of your tooth. Typically root canals are the treatment of choice for patients who have a deep tooth infection. The tooth’s pulp can become infected with bacteria because of a severe and untreated cavity or an injury. Without a treatment, the infection can actually spread through your body and the tooth will need to be extracted. In order to save your tooth from being extracted or your health from harm, our Florham Park dentist recommends undergoing a root canal treatment. During the procedure, Dr. Gohard will drill into your teeth, remove the infected pulp, reshape the inner chamber of your tooth, clean it to kill the bacteria and then fill it. For best results, we place a dental crown over your filling to protect your tooth from any further bacteria from entering.
Are Root Canals Painful?
This is one of the top questions our patients ask us and we are here to tell you no. Your root canal procedure will not be painful. Dr. Gohard will numb up your mouth before she begins the procedure so you shouldn’t feel a thing. If you happen to feel uncomfortable during the procedure, let us know and we will help you feel comfortable. Once the infected pulp is removed, the nerve of your tooth actually dies. Once your mouth has healed following the procedure, you shouldn’t feel any pain from this point forward. It’s completely normal to experience a great deal of pain prior to your root canal. This is from the infection in your tooth. You may also feel sore after your procedure. Once you’re healed, you won’t feel any more pain. If you do happen to feel excessive pain following your procedure, please let us know so we can help you.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
To find out if you’re a candidate for a root canal, you will need to first schedule a dental exam at our Florham Park dental office to be examined by Dr. Gohard. We will take x-rays and examine the area that is causing you pain to determine if a root canal is necessary. The top reasons a patient may need a root canal is if the soft tissue inside their tooth is infected or inflamed. This can caused by dental decay that hasn’t been treated, several repeated dental procedures on the tooth, from cracks or chips in the tooth, or from an injury to the tooth that causes damage to the pulp.
The Root Canal Procedure
Once Dr. Gohard has determined that you need a root canal, she will begin your procedure by numbing up your tooth with anesthesia using a needle. You might feel a slight pinch when the needle goes in. Once your tooth is numbed, Dr. Gohard will use a small drill to reach the inside of your tooth, going in from the top of your tooth. She will then use small dental instruments to clean away the infected pulp from inside your tooth. Next, Dr. Gohard will reshape your tooth’s canal or inner chamber and finish clearing away the infected pulp by irrigating the area with water. She may use an antimicrobial solution to kill the bacteria to reduce your risk of further infection.
Once the chamber is cleaned and dried, Dr. Gohard will give you a temporary filling. She will take impressions of your tooth to have a dental crown made. Once your permanent dental crown returns from the lab, Dr. Gohard will bond it to your tooth and your tooth will be completely healthy once again.
Root Canal Therapy Aftercare
Taking care of your tooth following your root canal in Florham Park is especially important. Our first recommendation for patients who just received a root canal is to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth so that you don’t irritate the area or place stress on the tooth. It’s best to stick with soft foods so you don’t risk damaging the temporary filling from harm. You should chew only soft foods until you have your permanent dental crown placed in order to avoid harm to your tooth. After your procedure, it’s also important to brush your teeth as gently as possible, especially near the area of your root canal. It can be difficult to floss near that area so just do the best job you can without forcing the floss. If it’s too difficult, Dr. Gohard may need to reshape that filling.
Lastly, you may experience some discomfort following your root canal. Take over the counter pain medicine to help. Pain should go away within a few days. If it becomes too much, please let us know so we can help. Make sure to keep up with your dental hygiene and routine dental checkups so we can verify that your tooth is still in good health.
Schedule Your Root Canal in Florham Park Today
If you suspect that your tooth is infected and you need a root canal, don’t wait around, Dr. Gohard is here to help. Give our dental office in Florham Park area a call today to schedule your root canal consultation at 973-377-2222 or fill out our online form to request an appointment. One of our friendly staff members will help you find an appointment at your earliest convenience.
