Endodontics/Root Canals
Root Canals in Dillon, CO
The idea of having root canal treatment often causes stress and anxiety. It is common for people to resist treatment for this reason, but unfortunately this can lead to serious complications than can result in dental emergencies. But you have no reason to worry when you understand that advances in technology and treatment techniques make the procedure as comfortable and efficient as having a tooth filled.
Root canal treatment is necessary to restore your dental health. It’s important that you seek prompt treatment for a root canal infection, so Drs. Mitchell and Schneider will work with you to help you overcome your fear or anxiety and get the treatment you need. We have extensive experience in performing root canals that will save and strengthen your tooth.
Why Is a Root Canal Needed?
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve in your tooth is affected by infection or decay. Treatment is necessary to clear away bacteria and infected material from the inside of the tooth. If we do not thoroughly cleanse the tooth, the infection can spread and eventually lead to more intense pain and possible tooth loss.
How Do I Know I Need a Root Canal
Only a dental professional can evaluate your condition and determine if root canal treatment is necessary. You should definitely contact Summit Dental Group if you have any of the following symptoms because there’s a good chance that root canal treatment may be needed:
- A raised bump or pimple on the gum
- Severe toothache pain that worsens over time
- Unusual sensitivity when pressure is placed on the tooth
- Discomfort when chewing or biting down
What Happens During a Root Canal?
There really is no reason to dread root canal treatment. Our Dillon dental office uses only the most up-to-date materials and instruments that result in less discomfort for the patient.
First, we will numb the area so you feel no discomfort. Then a small hole is made in your tooth to allow access so the infected material can be removed. If necessary, medicine will be placed in the space to prevent further infection. Finally, the tooth is filled and sealed, and we may recommend a dental crown to protect and strengthen the tooth.
Painless Dentistry to Ease Anxiety 
Our professional dental team has performed many successful root canals over the years. We want you to be completely comfortable so that you can receive this important treatment with confidence. We offer sedation options like nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation for our more anxious patients. Many of our patients report that the procedure was much easier and less stressful than they anticipated.
Before you leave our office, we will give you instructions for proper care of the tooth. Some soreness is normal after the numbing medicine wears off, but this is usually gone within a day after treatment.
Contact Our Summit County Dentist to Get Help
Root canal treatment is not something to put off. Delaying treatment can put your health at risk, so please contact our Dillon dental office if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a number of reasons why it may be necessary to extract a tooth. In the majority of cases, a tooth needs to be removed because decay has become so severe that extraction is the only option available to prevent you from experiencing continued acute pain.
Our Philosophy
It is our primary goal to preserve teeth whenever possible. Treatments like root canal therapy are one example of ways in which we can save a severely damaged tooth. When you have a root canal infection, you most likely experience a lot of pain. The only way to eliminate the pain and save the tooth is with a root canal.
But if you put off having a root canal, the pain will worsen as the decay continues to work its way into the portion of your tooth that contains the root and nerves. When this happens, a root canal may no longer be an option, and extraction of the tooth may be the only way to eliminate your pain.
Other Causes of Teeth Pulling
Other instances where tooth extraction is necessary are breaks or fractures in your tooth that extend beneath your gum line and wisdom teeth that have developed improperly and are causing crowding, which can lead to more serious oral health problems.
Typically, Crowns Are Needed After Root Canal Treatment
It is difficult to say whether you will definitely need a crown but, in the great majority of cases, the answer is yes, you will most likely need a dental crown after root canal treatment.
In general, dental crowns are used to provide support and strengthen a tooth that has been weakened. In the case of a root canal, the condition of the tooth before treatment is one of the determining factors. If the tooth has already been compromised by extensive decay, a dental crown will help protect it from further damage.
Dental crowns are versatile restorations, and protecting a tooth after a root canal is just one of their uses. We can also use dental crowns to make cosmetic alterations like reshaping of a tooth. If your teeth are severely discolored and cannot be whitened using traditional treatment, a crown is a good choice for creating a new, fresh-looking surface.
Our Priority Is Your Health
At Summit Dental Group, our first priority is protecting your oral health, and restorations like dental crowns help us accomplish that goal. But the type of treatment we choose really depends on your specific needs.
Please contact us for more information about dental crowns and the other types of restorative treatments we offer.
You will most likely need a root canal if your tooth becomes damaged by large cavities, trauma, or severe gum disease. If this damage progresses, it can reach the inner portion of your tooth where the nerves are located. This results in great discomfort, and a root canal becomes necessary to relieve the pain and save the tooth.
Many people still have the impression that a root canal is something to worry about. In reality, dental techniques and materials have improved so much that a root canal is really no more complicated than having a tooth pulled.
The Root Canal Procedure
During the root canal, the material inside the root is gently cleared away, and the area is disinfected and sealed. A dental crown may be needed to strengthen and protect the tooth from further damage.
Drs. Mitchell and Schneider both have extensive experience in performing root canals and understand your concerns. They will answer any questions you have and make sure you understand the procedure before beginning treatment.
We want to make sure you are completely comfortable, so please don’t hesitate to contact our office at 970-468-2471 to arrange a consultation so we can answer all your questions.
Cause of a Root Canal
If severe decay or periodontal disease occurs deep within your tooth, the doctors at our Dillon dental office may decide that a root canal is needed. This area within your tooth houses the nerves and pulp that keep your tooth alive.
If infection reaches this space in your tooth, a root canal is often the only way to preserve the tooth. Without root canal treatment, you face the risk of having the infection spread, and you may eventually need to have your tooth pulled.
Symptoms of Tooth Decay
Usually, the first indication of root canal infection is tenderness around the tooth and severe toothache pain that won’t go away. Most people have a negative reaction to the idea of a root canal, but if the infection is not removed, the pain will get worse and potentially result in loss of the tooth. The reason for root canal therapy is to eliminate the infection and the source of your pain.
Our Expertise
Drs. Mitchell and Schneider has extensive experience in performing root canals, and they know that many people get nervous when they think about having root canal treatment. Sedation options can work wonders in helping to keep you relaxed, but our experience and training allow us to perform root canals at our Dillon dental office that are comfortable, safe, and efficient.
In the majority of cases, you will notice some type of symptom that indicates an infected root canal. Although, there are cases where there are no symptoms and the infection will only be found by your dentist on an x-ray.
Getting Regular Check-Ups
This is another reason why Drs. Mitchell and Schneider stress the importance of regular checkups. When we take periodic x-rays of your teeth, we can detect a root canal infection long before it shows any symptoms and becomes serious.
Early treatment of an infected root canal is not just important for preventing symptoms, but it significantly increases the odds of saving the tooth and preventing the further spread of infection.
Some of the common symptoms of an infected root canal are:
- Increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- A small bump on the surface of your gum
- Discomfort when touching the tooth
- Severe pain that worsens over time
But some of these symptoms, like increased sensitivity can indicate other serious oral health problems. Only a dentist can evaluate your situation properly and determine if a root canal is necessary.
What To Do If You Are Experiencing These Symptoms
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, or are overdue for a dental exam, please contact our Summit dental office. It is far easier and better for your oral health to treat a root canal infection as quickly as possible.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Steven Mitchell DDS
Dr. Mitchell attended Florida State University and The University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate education and obtained his dental training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the University of Memphis. He also has extensive postgraduate education, specifically selecting courses focusing on oral surgery and dental implants. His most recent training in full-mouth rehabilitation allows him to provide smile makeovers to his patients for confident, healthy, beautiful smiles. His commitment to lifelong education means he is constantly evaluating emerging dental methods and technologies in order to provide ...