Dr. Kelly Unveils the Truth About Root Canals in Boonville

What’s the “worst” procedure that pops into your head when someone mentions dentistry? Probably root canals.  But you should know there’s no reason to cringe at the thought of a root canal. Dr. Joseph T. Kelly of Great Impression Dental makes every appointment and procedure a positive dental experience. We leave a great impression if you will. When patients need root canals in Boonville, we create a practically painless visit.

The only reason Dr. Kelly would recommend a root canal is to save your natural teeth. We know every mouth is different, so we will work with you to do just that. Let’s explore what getting a root canal really means, signs that you need it, and the process of getting one to give you a better understanding.

Unveiling the Truth About Root Canals

With all these rumors of a painful appointment that leaves patients writhing in agony, it’s important that you know the truth. Root canals are performed to save a dying tooth from becoming further infected and spreading infections. That’s really what causes the pain, sensitivity, and swelling—the infection.

If left untreated, your teeth will start to decay all the way from the root of your tooth (in the inside) and eventually decay the tooth to the point of death. Dr. Kelly can perform this “lifesaving” procedure to get your oral health back on track! He will meticulously remove all the signs of infection and fill the tooth with a biocompatible material. To complete a root canal, Dr. Kelly and seal the area with a tooth-colored dental crown. The dental crown will keep your tooth from getting infected by dangerous bacteria in the future.

The Signs That You May Need a Root Canal

Your teeth are constantly vulnerable to infection. Sometimes, dental bacteria can get the best of us in certain situations. For instance, if your tooth has been cracked, the food you’ve been eating, plaque, and other dangerous debris could be building up inside your tooth. There are telltale signs of tooth infections, and unfortunately, most of them are painful. The best way to relieve your tooth pain is to remove the infectious materials and restore your tooth to full health. You will be able to feel or see symptoms like these if you have an infected tooth:

Abscess

Essentially, this is a hole in the jaw bone that shows up as a black spot during dental x-rays. It looks this way because the bone does not grow in that area. Healthy jaw bones won’t grow in an area contaminated with infection.

Fistula (bump) on gums

A fistula is a white, yellow, or red pimple-looking bump that appears on your gum line.

Positional pain

Tooth pain that occurs when you lie down or suddenly stand up. This can be a sign of an abscess or dead tooth.

Referred pain

Pain that not only occurs in your tooth but another part of your body. Additional pain can occur in your jaw, ear, neck, or surrounding teeth.

Spontaneous pain

Tooth pain that occurs from a stimulus, like a hot or cold drink. Sometimes this can also be caused by extremely sweet foods or drinks as well.

Discuss the Health of Your Teeth with Dr. Kelly

Great Dental Impressions is equipped with the modern technology you need to take a better look at your oral health. If you’ve noticed any of these signs of an infected tooth, call our office. We can evaluate your oral health with our intraoral cameras and digital x-rays. Then we will work with you to develop a custom plan of action to relieve your dental pain. Contact our office to schedule an appointment before you’re writing in excruciating pain, googling “dentist near me” frantically. We’re here to prevent pain and restore health.