Most people think that a root canal is a bad thing, but it’s actually a good thing!

That’s right, if your dentist says you need a root canal, that means they are going to save your real tooth. Otherwise, they would need to pull the tooth and replace it with a dental implant. So, getting a root canal is the smartest, cheapest solution to your dental problem.

A root canal can protect your health, save you money, and let you keep your amazing smile.

The root canal process removes the infected or swollen pulp from your tooth. After that, we will clean and disinfect the area. Finally, we seal it to prevent any further infection. This will help to save your natural tooth and avoid having an extraction.

Our highly experienced general dentist or endodontist near you can also perform laser therapy to save your tooth. A laser root canal is a newer, more modern way to do the same thing but using a laser. It’s often quicker and less painful than a traditional root canal procedure.

Schedule your Root Canal Appointment NOW. Our skilled dentist, Dr. Weber, and his team will relieve your pain and safeguard your beautiful smile.

Root Canal Near You

Root canal treatment saves a decayed tooth when an infection is near the root of the tooth. Dentists and endodontists perform these procedures on severely damaged or decayed teeth. You need this procedure when the pulp, the inner part of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels, becomes infected.

Who Needs A Root Canal?

You need a root canal when the tooth’s nerve becomes infected, or the pulp becomes damaged. A deep cavity, a cracked or fractured tooth, injury to a tooth, a large filling, or severe decay can cause this.

In these cases, doing a root canal can save your tooth and prevent the need to remove the tooth. Signs can include a severe toothache, prolonged sensitivity to temperature, tooth color change, and swollen or sensitive gums.

It is hard to say what your root canal will typically cost. The cost of a root canal depends on the type of tooth, such as a front tooth, a back tooth, or a molar. Usually, your insurance will cover most of the cost, so you only have to pay a small amount. You will know the exact price before your treatment after you meet our dentist.

Root Canal Process

Root canals might seem scary, but knowing what to expect can make it less daunting. You need the dental procedure when dangerous bacteria infect the dental pulp. Here’s a step-by-step guide from start to finish:

  1. X-Ray: Our highly experienced dentist will start by taking an X-ray of your teeth. This X-ray will help us see the tooth’s shape and its root. Additionally, it will allow us to check for any bone infection signs. We will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth.
  2. Pulpectomy: Our skilled dentist or endodontist will remove tooth pulp using advanced technology.
  3. Cleaning and Enlarging: The dentist will clean, enlarge, and shape the root canal using small files. It could take a few hours or, in rare cases, need more than one visit, depending on how infected it is.
  4. Filling the Root Canal: We fill the root canal with a rubber-like material called after cleaning the canal. Our dentist then seals the hole in the tooth with a temporary or permanent filling.
  5. Crown: After the root canal procedure, our dentist may put a dental crown on top to protect it. You can now go back to smiling, laughing, and enjoying your food without any pain again.

Root canals have a reputation for being painful, but not at our office! The procedure itself is relatively painless when compared to other dental treatments.

Our highly qualified dentist thoroughly numbs the area before the procedure begins. However, after your procedure, you might feel slight discomfort or tenderness in the area for a short while. Over-the-counter pain medication usually can help you feel much better.

Most people can return to their normal activities on the same day. Avoid biting or chewing on the treated tooth until it fully heals. Your recovery time varies based on your infection severity and your overall health, but it’s generally quick.

Laser Root Canal What Is That?

A laser root canal is a modern treatment for root canals that uses modern laser technology. Like a traditional root canal, laser treatment aims to clean the inside of your tooth and remove any infection. We use a special laser to clean and sterilize the infected area inside your tooth. This method is accurate and fast, which surpasses the traditional endodontic treatment approach.

During laser therapy, the dentist uses a laser to access the inside of the tooth. The laser’s energy cleans and disinfects the canal, removing the infected pulp. The laser can kill bacteria and other pathogens, ensuring a higher disinfection level than traditional therapy methods.

Schedule your Root Canal Appointment NOW. Our skilled dentist, Dr. Weber, and his team will relieve your pain and safeguard your beautiful smile.

Laser Root Canals What Are The Benefits Over Traditional Methods

There are several benefits associated with laser therapy when compared to the traditional root canal method. Laser therapy is faster because it removes your infected tissue and disinfects your canals more quickly.

It can be less painful, as the laser is less invasive and causes less damage to your surrounding tissue. This can result in less post-procedure discomfort, allowing you to heal faster.

The Process Of Laser Root Canals

Laser treatments might seem novel, but understanding the process can alleviate concerns. Here’s how the laser root canals process works:

  1. Preparation: The dentist takes an X-ray before treatment. We do this to check your root canal and determine if there is any infected tooth in the nearby bone. A local anesthetic numbs the area around the tooth to keep you comfortable. The dentist then places a rubber dam around the tooth to keep it dry.
  2. Accessing the Tooth: The dentist creates an access hole into the tooth using a tiny drill or a laser. This results in less noise and vibration, easing anxiety for many patients.
  3. Laser Pulpectomy: The dentist uses the laser to remove the diseased pulp. The laser’s high energy accurately targets your infected tissue, minimizing damage to your surrounding tooth structure.
  4. Cleaning and Disinfection: The laser cleans and disinfects the canal in your mouth. The high energy of the laser beam vaporizes bacteria and other pathogens, ensuring a high level of disinfection.
  5. Filling the Root Canal: After thoroughly cleaning the canal, the dentist fills it with gutta-percha. This filling seals the access hole in your canal.
  6. Crown: Our dentist or endodontist may fill the hole with white bonding material or sometimes put a crown on top to further protect it. This will get you out of pain, save your teeth, and keep your smile looking great.

The precision of the laser is minimally invasive, reducing post-procedure discomfort. You can usually manage any pain with over-the-counter pain medication.

The recovery period after laser tooth canal therapy is typically faster than a traditional root canal. Since the laser causes less damage and less tooth pain, your surrounding tissues heal more quickly.

You can resume your normal activities on the same day. However, avoiding biting or chewing on the treated tooth is essential until it fully heals to prevent damage.

You might ask, how long does a root canal take? Well, it all depends on your unique needs. We suggest you come for a root canal consultation to see if it’s the best choice for your unique dental needs. We take multiple insurance plans and ensure to take the maximum reimbursment from your insurance coverage.

Root Canals Vs. Laser Root Canals

When choosing between root canals, it is important to consider factors such as pain, time, cost, and healing period. You should take these factors into account for both traditional and laser therapy.

Pain: Traditional treatment may cause some discomfort, but modern techniques and anesthesia can minimize any discomfort. Laser therapy is less painful because the laser is precise and causes minimal harm to your nearby tissues.

Time: Traditional procedures can be time-consuming, often requiring multiple visits. Laser therapy is faster because the laser can clean and disinfect your root canal quickly and more precisely.

Cost: Laser root canal costs are slightly higher than traditional root canals because of advanced laser technology. However, most patients prefer the slightly higher price because of the increased comfort, precision, and speed of the procedure.

Healing Period: Recovery time after a root canal varies based on infection severity and overall health. Laser therapy generally has a quicker recovery period, given the minimal damage it causes.

Schedule Your Root Canal Appointment NOW!

Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Weber and his team today by calling 785-273-2922 or visiting our office at 2930 SW Wanamaker Drive, Suite 7, Topeka, Kansas. We’re here to help you achieve your optimal health with an elegant smile!

Call 785-273-2922 now for a Root Canal Appointment. Our friendly dental staff will assist you in relieving your pain and get you smiling again.