704 NE Evans Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
New Patients Call (503) 472-1403
Existing Patients Call (503) 472-1402
Do you have a toothache you’ve been ignoring, and what started as a dull ache has now turned into a serious, searing pain? If so, you may need a root canal, and before you run away from this page, know that this is a virtually painless treatment that helps us save even the most damaged teeth. It can make that toothache disappear in a single appointment, and thanks to Dr. Ramsay’s gentle touch, you’ll barely feel anything during root canal therapy in McMinnville, OR. Afterward, your only regret will be not coming to see us sooner! To schedule an appointment and get the relief you deserve, contact us today.
Not every toothache needs to be treated with root canal therapy. This tooth-saving service is usually reserved for teeth that are so damaged, decayed, or infected that they can’t be treated with other means, such as a filling or dental crown. The most common signs that you may need root canal therapy are:
If you notice any of these symptoms, give us a call immediately. We’ll work quickly to schedule you a same-day emergency appointment so you can get the pain relief you need right away.
Root canal therapy is designed to alleviate discomfort and save as much healthy tooth structure as possible. The first thing we’ll do when you visit us for a root canal is make sure you feel comfortable and relaxed. We’ll use local anesthetic to ensure your mouth is completely numb. We also offer a wide variety of sedation options to help our patients feel completely at-ease. Once you’re settled into the examination chair and your McMinnville dentist Dr. Ramsay has thoroughly examined your mouth, she’ll begin treatment.
Dr. Ramsay will make a small hole in your enamel and remove all the infected or damaged tissues from inside your tooth. Then, she’ll clean and sanitize the tooth to make sure it is completely free of any bacteria before filling it with a biocompatible material. Once the tooth has been filled, she’ll eventually top it with a brand-new crown to restore its appearance and function. Between her skilled hands and the local anesthetic, our patients say that getting a root canal feels similar to having a filling placed, as in not painful in the slightest!
Root canal therapy is a safe, trusted procedure that can prevent serious oral health problems in the future. Some of the most important benefits of root canal therapy are:
If you’re in pain, a root canal may be able to make that toothache disappear while still preserving your natural, beautiful smile. However, there’s a lot of misinformation surrounding this common tooth-saving procedure, so it’s natural to have some questions that need answering before you’re ready to commit to a treatment plan. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common questions we get about root canals so you can learn more about them. If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, we’re just a phone call away!
Your current health and medical disposition will influence how quickly you’ll recover from your procedure. While this means recovery times differ from patient to patient, you’ll likely feel up to returning to work or school the day afterwards. You can expect your mouth to be sore and somewhat swollen for several days, but all your symptoms should be easy to manage with over-the-counter pain killers.
When patients hear that they need a root canal for a tooth infection, they often wonder if they can save themselves the trouble of a dental procedure by just taking antibiotics. Unfortunately, while antibiotics can treat bacterial infections practically anywhere in the body, they do not work on tooth infections. This is because they travel through the bloodstream, which doesn’t reach the pulp of a tooth.
If you’re nervous about your upcoming root canal or unconvinced that you really need one because your tooth doesn’t hurt, you may be tempted to postpone your root canal. However, this is a very bad idea with potentially serious and life-threatening consequences. A root canal is the last option for saving a tooth from extraction- if you wait too long, the tooth may be too far gone to be saved. Then, you’d need to deal with extracting and replacing your tooth instead of just repairing it. In some situations, the infection can get so intense that it travels to other parts of the body, which can cause health concerns.
You may be surprised to hear that you need a root canal if your teeth aren’t bothering you. While a throbbing toothache is the most common sign that you need a root canal, it’s not the only indicator that you may need this treatment. For instance, an infection in your tooth can attack and irreparably damage the nerve of your tooth. Then, your tooth wouldn’t hurt, but the bacterial infection would still be present and posing a threat to your oral health. We don’t recommend root canals lightly; if you have any questions as to why you need this tooth-saving procedure, don’t hesitate to ask so we can walk you through our reasoning.
Generally speaking, the less expensive or invasive a treatment is, the more your dental insurance is likely to cover. Preventive care like checkups and cleanings often receive 90-100% coverage. Unfortunately, root canal therapy is often classified as a major restorative treatment, which typically entitles it to only 50% coverage or less. However, we never want cost to stand between you and a healthy smile. We’d be happy to discuss your financing options with CareCredit, which would allow you to break up the cost of your root canal into smaller, more manageable monthly payments.