At McCullough Dental, we know that no one looks forward to having a root canal. After all, going to the dentist can be scary for patients of any age. But if you’re experiencing pain from an infected tooth, a root canal can be a very welcome solution.
When you receive root canal treatment from McCullough Dental, you can rest assured knowing your tooth will be protected from further damage while relieving you of pain. If you have anxiety associated with dental treatments, our dental team is here to assure you that undergoing a root canal procedure at our practice is a straightforward and comfortable experience.
Expert Root Canal Care Near You
You do not have to travel far to receive exceptional root canal treatment. In fact, here at McCullough Dental in Bakersfield, we have a dentist who specializes in root canal care to give you instant relief and get your smile on the road to recovery! This will not only decrease your dental anxiety but improve your quality of life after treatment.
If you are experiencing gum or tooth pain, call our office today and schedule an appointment to see if root canal treatment can help you.
Comprehensive Root Canal Therapy in Bakersfield
Our dental team is highly skilled and dedicated to providing effective, comfortable, and compassionate care to restore your dental health. At our office, we believe in full transparency so we will guide you through everything you need to know about root canal therapy, including what it is, why it is necessary, what the procedure entails, and what post-treatment care is required.
Understanding Root Canals
A root canal is a tooth-saving procedure that seeks to remove infected pulp within the tooth and effectively prevent the infection from causing tooth loss and spreading to other teeth. Tooth pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When the pulp becomes infected from a crack, chip, or general decay in the tooth, it can cause severe pain that only root canal care can alleviate.
Signs You Might Need a Root Canal
To save yourself time and pain, it is important to recognize the signs of an infected tooth so you can receive root canal care quickly, preventing additional dental intervention. Some symptoms to watch for include:
- Severe tooth pain, especially when chewing
- Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
- Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
- Swelling and tenderness in nearby gums
- A persistent bump or infection on the gums
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to contact our office for a thorough evaluation as soon as possible.
What to Expect From Root Canal Treatment
Our patients are like family. That’s why your oral health and physical well-being are our top priorities. All our dental treatments aim to restore your dental health, give you stunning results, and provide a comfortable, family-friendly experience. Root canal therapy is no different.
If you are suffering from an infected tooth, our root canal specialist can help. Root canals are designed to treat infections and damage within the pulp of a tooth, effectively reducing pain and stopping the spread of infection. The benefits of root canal therapy include:
- Pain relief: Infections and inflammation of the tooth pulp can cause severe pain, often worsening over time. A root canal eliminates this discomfort by removing the infected tissue.
- Preservation of natural teeth: Keeping your natural teeth helps maintain your smile’s integrity and function. Preserving your natural teeth can also prevent further dental intervention, strengthen the stability of neighboring teeth, and prevent jawbone deterioration.
- Prevention of further infection: Removing the infected pulp prevents the spread of infection to surrounding tissues and other teeth.
- Improved oral health: A treated and restored tooth can last a lifetime with proper care, contributing to overall better oral health.
With a root canal, you can save yourself the physical pain of further infection, emotional strain of decreased self-confidence due to tooth loss, and future expense of advanced dental issues. If you want to experience these amazing benefits and improve your quality of life, contact our dental team today and schedule an appointment to get started.
If you are experiencing symptoms of deep decay and want the transforming benefits of root canal treatment, then call our dental office today to see if root canal care is right for you.
Importance of Root Canal Treatment
Pushing off root canal treatment could lead to more serious issues, affecting your overall health by infecting multiple teeth and increasing the risk of tooth loss. These issues may also impact your self-confidence by diminishing the aesthetic of your smile, causing you to hide your smile when socializing or posing in photos.
If you are currently suffering from an infected tooth, let us help you avoid further physical pain, financial toll, and emotional or social discomfort by scheduling your appointment for a root canal.
Personalized Solutions to Protect Your Smile
We customize all of our treatments according to our patient’s needs, goals, and current smile situation, so even though each root canal treatment process is similar, it could change depending on specific needs. Here is what you can expect during the procedure:
EXAMINATION AND DIAGNOSIS
Dr. McCullough will diagnose you following a thorough examination. If you are a candidate for a root canal, the dental team will use imaging to create a treatment plan.
SEDATION OPTIONS
Before the procedure begins, we will numb the affected area, including the gums and tooth, to ensure that you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. If you experience more severe dental anxiety, we offer sedation options to give you the added benefit of relaxation to help maximize comfort throughout your visit for optimal results.
REMOVING THE INFECTED PULP
Using specialized dental instruments and techniques, the dentist will carefully remove the infected or damaged pulp from the inside of the tooth and surrounding tissue.
Dr. McCullough may make small adjustments to the treatment plan depending on what he sees inside the tooth. You can trust him to be as conservative as possible while rescuing your tooth.
CLEANING AND SHAPING
Once the infection is removed, the pulp chamber will be cleaned, disinfected, and prepared for a filling.
FILLING THE CANALS
This step is necessary to ensure future dental health. The process of filling the canals effectively seals the site to prevent further dental decay.
SEALING THE TOOTH
It is often recommended to place a crown over the tooth to provide additional support, strength, and protection to the tooth. Using customized dental crowns, your smile will be natural-looking, and experience an improved appearance and function.
After your treatment is completed, the dentist will give you instructions on how to properly care for your tooth and protect your oral health for the future.
POST-TREATMENT CARE
You may experience some discomfort after your root canal therapy. This is often mitigated with over-the-counter pain relievers. Some general guidelines include:
- Maintain oral hygiene: Continue brushing and flossing regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- Avoid hard foods: Refrain from chewing on hard or crunchy foods until the tooth is fully restored with a crown to prevent damage. Be cautious when eating hard foods like ice or hard candies, as these can damage your teeth and restorations.
- Follow-up visits: Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure the tooth is healing correctly and to discuss any concerns.
- Wear a mouthguard: If you participate in contact sports or grind your teeth at night, consider wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth.
A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy can last a lifetime with proper care, using the tips and instructions from the dentist to ensure the longevity of your treated tooth.
Enhancing Your Quality of Life
There are many problems that root canal treatment addresses including pain, decay, and further deterioration of your oral health. This treatment will transform your smile and protect it from infection so you can smile with confidence.
There are many ways to treat an inflamed or infected pulp. In order to address each patient’s unique needs, our dental expert will create a treatment plan based on your circumstances and smile goals to give you specific and customized care.
Each member of our patient family is different—a one-size-fits-all approach will simply not do. We want to provide you with excellent, personalized treatment options that are specific to your smile and will improve your dental health and overall quality of life.
What McCullough Dental Has to Offer
We get it—finding a dental office you love and trust can be stressful. After all, you need to know that your dental health and overall well-being are in good hands. That’s why here at McCullough dental, we do our best to make every patient feel like family—and family deserves the best!
Not only do we have an expert dentist who specializes in root canal therapy, but our dental team is known for our compassionate care and friendly demeanor. Paired with our advanced technology, you can trust McCullough Dental to give you long-lasting and stunning results.
Here are just a few of the benefits we offer:
- Expertise: You can rest assured knowing your root canal care will be completed with precision, skill, and experience. Our extensive experience and specialized training make us uniquely qualified to address even the most complex root canal cases.
- Compassionate Care: When you suffer from poor dental health, it can be hard to expect compassionate care from dental professionals. Our team understands your emotional and physical discomfort. That’s why we place patient comfort and satisfaction above all else. You can expect to be greeted with warmth and empathy by our caring team.
- State-of-the-Art Technology: We pride ourselves in having the latest cutting-edge dental technology to provide you with precise and accurate care. This technology will enhance the root canal process and improve your overall experience.
Why Our Patients Choose Us
Wondering if McCullough Dental is right for you and your smile needs? Don’t take our word for it—see what other patients are saying to make your decision easier!
“Thank you for a pain-free experience and for your care and kindness. Doctor and staff made a fairly extensive morning of dental work darn near enjoyable. By the way, “dental work” and “enjoyable” written in the same sentence is really, really rare. I recommended your skill and professionalism without reservation!”
– Koleen L.
“Every time I go there, every one makes you feel so welcome and comfortable. From the front desk, the hygienist, the assistants, to the Doctor… what a Family!
I love them all!”
– Frank L
What to Know about Root Canal Treatment
A good way to know more about a dental treatment is by asking questions. Here are some of the most common questions when it comes to root canals:
Will I Experience Pain During Treatment?
Contrary to popular belief, root canals are not painful procedures. With our expertise, modern techniques, advanced technology, and sedation options, you should not feel pain during treatment. Most patients report only feeling minimal discomfort during the process.
How Will My Appointment Go?
On the day of your root canal, you can expect to be fully informed about your treatment plan. You will also be able to ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have. Our team will make sure that you feel comfortable every step of the way.
Once the treatment starts, the dentist will remove the infected or damaged pulp, seal the site and place a crown over the tooth to restore functionality and strength. After treatment is completed, our team will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions to promote healing and minimize any discomfort following your procedure.
How Long Does a Root Canal Treatment Take?
The actual treatment only takes 60–90 minutes, including the whole time you are in the office. Depending on the complexity of your case, however, you may need one or two visits.
Are There Any Pretreatment Rules I Need to Follow?
Depending on your needs, goals, and treatment plan, we will provide you with pre-procedure instructions. This may include avoiding food and drink for a certain period before your appointment or taking prescribed medications as directed.
If you are in need of sedation options, we will walk you through the process, help you pick the option right for you, and help you feel comfortable before the procedure begins.
Can a Tooth Get Infected Again?
It is not common for a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy to get re-infected. If you receive a new cavity, experience trauma to the tooth, or the crown restoration is damaged, you could experience another infection. With regular dental checkups, Dr. McCullough will be able to detect and address any issues to keep your smile strong.
What Happens if I Don’t Get a Root Canal?
If you don’t receive root canal treatment, the infection can spread causing severe pain, abscesses, and eventually tooth loss. Root canal therapy is designed to keep those problems from happening.
Find Out if You Are a Good Candidate
If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, inflamed gums, or dental pain, then you might be a candidate for root canal therapy. Schedule an appointment with McCullough Dental today and start your journey to improved dental health and enhanced quality of life!