Root Canal

Immediately after your root canal appointment, it’s best to avoid chewing on the treated tooth until the numbness wears off to prevent accidental injury. Stick to soft foods for the first few days as the area heals.

Once the tooth is fully restored, typically with a permanent filling or crown, you can resume normal eating habits. Avoid chewing very hard items like ice or hard candy with the treated tooth to prevent potential damage.

Most dental insurance plans provide coverage for root canal treatment, as it is considered a necessary procedure to save a tooth and prevent further health issues. The extent of coverage varies depending on your specific plan.

Our team at High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown is experienced in working with dental insurance and can help you understand your benefits and estimate your out-of-pocket costs for root canal therapy.

With successful root canal treatment and appropriate restoration, such as a dental crown, a treated tooth can last for many years, often a lifetime. The procedure eliminates the infection and preserves the tooth structure.

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene, attending regular dental checkups in Hackettstown, and protecting the tooth with the recommended restoration are key factors in ensuring the longevity of your root canal treated tooth.

The duration of a root canal treatment varies depending on the tooth’s complexity and the extent of the infection. Generally, a root canal can be completed in one or two appointments at our Hackettstown office.

Simple cases might take around 60-90 minutes, while more complex teeth with multiple canals could require longer or a second visit. Doctor K. will provide an estimated timeframe during your consultation.

Root canal treatment is a highly successful procedure with a very high success rate in saving teeth that would otherwise need extraction. It effectively removes infection and allows the tooth to remain functional for many years.

With proper restoration, like a crown, and good oral hygiene, a tooth treated with a root canal can last a lifetime. Our goal at High Tech Dentist is to provide effective treatment to save your natural smile.

While not always mandatory, placing a dental crown after a root canal is highly recommended, especially for back teeth. A treated tooth can become brittle over time, and a crown provides essential protection against fracture from biting forces.

Doctor K. will assess your specific tooth and recommend the best restoration, whether it’s a filling, post and core, or a full dental crown, to ensure the long-term health and strength of your tooth after root canal therapy.

Modern root canal treatment is designed to be comfortable. We use effective local anesthetic to numb the area completely, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure itself, only perhaps some pressure. Our priority is your comfort throughout your visit.

Any discomfort after the anesthetic wears off is typically manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. This post-treatment tenderness is temporary and a sign of healing, far less severe than the pain caused by the original infection.

At High Tech Dentist in Hackettstown, we utilize advanced dental technology to enhance the precision and comfort of root canal treatments. This includes digital X-rays for detailed imaging and specialized instruments for thorough cleaning of the root canals.

Our commitment to high-tech dentistry means a more efficient and effective procedure, helping to ensure the best possible outcome for saving your tooth and relieving your dental pain.

The primary alternative to root canal treatment is extracting the infected tooth. While extraction removes the source of infection, it means losing your natural tooth, which can lead to issues like shifting teeth and bone loss.

Replacing a missing tooth requires further procedures like a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture, which can be more complex and costly than saving your natural tooth with a root canal.

Ignoring the need for a root canal allows the infection to spread. This can lead to increased pain, swelling, bone loss around the tooth, and potentially affect your overall health. The infection will not heal on its own.

Delaying treatment can make the infection harder to treat and may eventually lead to the loss of the tooth. Saving your natural tooth with a root canal is always the preferred option over extraction when possible.

Some mild tenderness is normal for a few days after a root canal. However, if you experience severe pain, swelling, or discomfort that worsens or persists beyond the initial recovery period, please contact our Hackettstown office immediately.

This could indicate a complication or persistent infection. We will schedule you for an evaluation to determine the cause and provide necessary follow-up care to ensure your tooth heals properly and you remain comfortable.

Many root canal treatments can be completed in a single appointment, especially for teeth with simpler anatomy or less severe infections. This allows for efficient treatment and quicker relief from dental pain.

However, some cases, particularly those involving molars with multiple canals or significant infection, may require two appointments to ensure thorough cleaning and disinfection before the final sealing and restoration.