AppointmentsNo one wants to hear that they need a root canal, and even fewer want to hear that they need a root canal retreatment. In fact the only thing people want to hear when it comes to root canals is that they don’t need one. But the fact is that from time to time, a root canal is necessary. You see, while the pulp of your tooth is what keeps it alive, the fact is that you really don’t need it in order to keep the structure of your tooth intact. Don’t be fooled, your tooth needs it’s pulp, but if that pulp must be removed because it has become infected, a root canal can salvage the tooth itself, and allow our dentist, Dr. Samuel Lambrecht to place a crown later to ensure that you can continue to enjoy an attractive and functional smile.
Once your root canal is finished, you will need to make sure that you carefully follow all of the aftercare instructions to make sure that it remains healthy. This includes taking all of your medication as directed, especially when it comes to any prescribed antibiotics to neutralize any infection in your tooth. However, you may at some point experience pain or swelling in or around the tooth. This may be accompanied by a fever, chills, or nausea. These could be signs that you may need a root canal retreatment. There may be a number of different reasons why this is necessary. If one of the roots of your tooth is oddly shaped, there may have been some infected pulp at the bottom of one of those roots. The tooth may become reinfected if you wait too long before coming back in to Orangeburg Dental Associates to have your crown or filling placed. In some cases, the infection may not develop for some time after your first root canal. If you have developed a crack in the tooth, or bacteria has worked its way under the crown or filling, and infection may set in, requiring a re-treatment. If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is important that you call us at 803-534-1020 right away to schedule an appointment. The dentist may simply need to repeat the root canal procedure. If the infection is located in the bottom of one of the roots, the dentist may need to perform what it known as an apicoectomy. This is a surgical procedure in which the dentist removed the tip of the root and the infection.
If you think you may be having problems with a root canal in Orangeburg, South Carolina, we will be happy to help you set things right with your smile. Just give us a call and we’ll take it from there!