Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Procedure

in San Antonio, TX

A dental infection can cause immense pain and eventually result in serious oral health issues, including tooth loss. At River City Dental Solutions in San Antonio, TX, a root canal can relieve painful symptoms and eliminate the need for tooth extraction. If you need root canal therapy, dentist Joseph Perry makes the procedure virtually painless.

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What Is Root Canal Therapy?

And How Does a Root Canal Work?

Root canal treatment is needed when bacteria enters the tooth via cracks, chips, or cavities. When this bacteria causes an infection inside the tooth roots and pulp, root canal therapy is needed to remove the infected pulp and blood vessels.

When bacteria enter a tooth and develop into an infection, antibiotics are often not enough to relieve painful symptoms like tenderness and abscess. Root canal treatment allows your dentist or endodontist to remove the infected pulp and eliminate the infection.

Do I Need a Root Canal?

A dental infection usually occurs when decay reaches the pulp (soft tissue) within a tooth. This may present a number of symptoms that could indicate that a root canal is necessary. Some of the most common symptoms include:

Severe pain that worsens when chewing
An abscess that looks like a large, irritated bump on the gums
Extreme sensitivity to heat or cold
Tender or swollen gum tissue
Dental discoloration
Pus or infection at the gumline

Ready to Experience Relief From Tooth Pain?

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you suspect you have an infected tooth, the team at River City Dental Solutions in San Antonio, TX, can provide relief from painful symptoms with a prompt root canal.

To learn more about how Dr. Perry can improve the health of your smile, or to request an appointment with our San Antonio, TX, dentist, you can reach out to us using our online form or by phone at 210-941-3657.

Affordable Dental Care

To help keep the cost of treatment affordable at River City Dental Solutions, we accept most major dental insurance plans. Our friendly office staff will be more than happy to work with your provider to help you make the most of your benefits.

For patients without insurance, we offer membership in our in-house loyalty plan. For a one-time annual fee, membership includes exams, X-rays, routine cleanings, and discounts on all other dental services.

We will be glad to answer any questions you may have about your insurance coverage or our in-house loyalty plan during your next visit to our San Antonio, TX, dentist office.

Why Choose River City Dental Solutions?

Dr. Perry can perform a root canal in the comfort of our San Antonio dental office without the need for a referral to an endodontist. Other reasons to choose River City Dental Solutions for a root canal include:

Advanced Technology – Our state-of-the-art dentistry practice includes 3D digital imaging tools that allow Dr. Perry to accurately diagnose and treat an infected tooth with root canal therapy. This tech allows us to provide greater precision and safety.

Compassionate Care – Gentle care and patient comfort are top priorities among our caring team of dental professionals. We go out of our way to make every step of a root canal as comfortable as possible and can provide sedation options to help patients relax during treatment.

Experienced Dentist – For more than three decades, Dr. Perry has provided patients with exceptional dental care. Offering a wide range of dental procedures, he can provide your entire family with beautifully healthy smiles without the need for an outside specialist.

Exploring Candidacy

Is a Root Canal the Right Treatment Option for Me?

Do I Qualify for a Root Canal?

When performed correctly, root canals have a 95% success rate. To be effective long-term, however, the procedure must be performed on teeth that have sufficient remaining structure. Therefore, if you have a large cavity or extensive damage, you may not be suitable for this type of treatment. The best way to determine your candidacy for root canal treatment is to schedule a consultation with your San Antonio dentist.

Alternative Treatment Options

The only alternative to root canal treatment is extraction. Unfortunately, this is sometimes the most viable option. During an appointment at our office, your dentist will help you weigh the risks and benefits of root canal therapy. If the affected tooth has a good prognosis with treatment, your tooth could last the rest of your life. If the prognosis is poor or questionable, then your dentist will likely recommend an extraction and, in some cases, an implant.

Schedule Your Root Canal Consultation Today

Are you experiencing pain or other symptoms in one or more teeth? Get in touch with Dr. Joseph Perry today.

In some cases, a root canal infection may not be accompanied by painful symptoms, which is why routine dental visits are so important. During these visits, your dentist can detect any underlying issues and address them before they progress.

Dr. Joseph Perry provides comprehensive, compassionate care to individuals and families in the San Antonio area. Under his care, you can expect virtually painless treatment that provides immense relief and health benefits.

To schedule a root canal consultation at our San Antonio, TX, office, reach out to one of our team members. Contact us online anytime or call us at 210-941-3657.

Root Canal Treatment Timeline

What should I expect during my root canal?

Root canal treatment can be completed in one to two visits at our San Antonio office. On average, treating one tooth takes about one to two hours. Here is a general timeline of what patients can expect from start to finish:

X-Rays – Before beginning the treatment, your dentist takes X-rays to determine if a root canal or another treatment is the best option.

Access – To begin the root canal, your dentist must access the pulp of the tooth, which consists of nerves, ligaments, and other soft tissues. To do this, a small hole is created in the top of the tooth, usually on the chewing surface.

Cleaning and Disinfection – Next, the pulp is completely removed. Your dentist then thoroughly cleans and disinfects the inner surfaces.

Filling the Tooth – Once the infected pulp has been removed, the root canals and pulp chamber are filled with a rubber-like dental material. The tooth is also sealed with a filling to prevent recontamination, much like filling a cavity.

Placement of Crown – In many cases, your dentist will need to restore the tooth with a dental crown after a root canal. This adds strength and protection for optimal oral health.

The Benefits of a Dental Crown

It's common for our patients to receive a durable dental crown after undergoing root canal therapy. While many patients have experience with crowns, commonly referred to as caps, some do not. Here are some of the basics you need to know regarding this treatment:

A dental crown completely covers a tooth that has suffered traumatic damage or decay. Once placed, the crown reinforces the weakened tooth, offers important protection, and can even correct misshapenness or discoloration. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, a single dental crown is the most commonly performed restorative procedure in all of dentistry.

Recovery and Aftercare

What should I anticipate after my root canal?

Root canal recovery typically takes less than a week. General side effects usually subside in just a few days.

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful? – Many of our San Antonio patients worry that root canal treatment is painful. Contrary to popular belief, the procedure itself is virtually painless. By removing the pulp, the source of the pain is eliminated. In most cases, patients who undergo this procedure experience significant and immediate relief following their appointment.

Normal Side Effects – As with most dentistry treatments, patients can expect some level of tenderness and inflammation after their root canal. These side effects can be successfully managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Your dentist may also prescribe pain medication, which should be taken exactly as directed.

Post-op Guidelines – Following your root canal, you will be provided with a list of postoperative instructions. In general, patients should refrain from exercise or strenuous activity for two to three days. The area should be kept clean by gently swishing with warm salt water or antibacterial mouthwash. Following these recommendations helps foster a comfortable recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Root Canal Therapy in San Antonio

If you have more questions about the root canal procedure that aren't addressed here, please send us a message.

A. Nothing beats natural teeth.

When an infection of your pulp leads to significant pain, some patients feel that the best option is to just extract their tooth and move forward. While this line of thinking can be tempting, we don't recommend it. The truth is, nothing beats saving a natural tooth if possible. Here's why:

Appearance – The dental restorations we provide are life-like and beautiful, but no matter how quality a restoration is, it cannot perfectly mimic the appearance of a natural tooth.
Function – Eating and speaking with natural teeth will feel more effortless than the same basic functions with a dental restoration.
Protection – A restoration like a dental bridge only works by altering surrounding natural teeth. Preserving your tooth instead will protect the rest of your smile.

A. When it comes to dental procedures, there are no guarantees. There is always a chance that root canal treatment could fail. This could happen for a number of reasons, including a damaged restoration or residual infection from the initial treatment. In some cases, portions of the pulp or tissues were left behind. Symptoms of failure may be obvious just days or weeks after your procedure, or they could surface months, or even years, later. The best way for you as a patient to minimize this risk is to choose an excellent dentist.

Should your root canal procedure fail, your dentist will recommend appropriate next steps. Endodontic retreatment may be an option. This involves performing a second root canal to address any infection. There are also other endodontic procedures—such as an apicoectomy (root amputation)—that remove a portion of the affected root to reduce the risk of reinfection.

If endodontic treatment is not an option, your San Antonio, TX, dentist will likely recommend extracting the tooth and replacing it with an implant. Dental implants are currently considered the best teeth replacement option available in dentistry.

At River City Dental Solutions, Dr. Perry will take the time to discuss all your treatment options in detail so you can be well-informed before making a decision.

A. An endodontist is a specialty dentist who has undergone training to specifically treat issues regarding tooth pulp, like root canal infections. If your case is especially complex, you may be referred to an endodontist to receive in-depth treatment.

That being said, many root canal cases can be resolved by seeing a skilled dentist like Dr. Perry. One major advantage of trusting this treatment to a general dentist is that it allows you to receive your root canal care and accompanying crown under one roof instead of having to shuttle to various providers throughout the city.

Request a Virtually Painless Root Canal

Root canal treatment has undergone major advances over the past couple of decades, making what used to be a painful procedure now fairly routine. When San Antonio patients come to Dr. Perry with dental pain, he does a great job explaining that the pain they are experiencing generally stems from the infection itself—not treatment for it.

Throughout every step of your care, our dentist and his compassionate team will prioritize your comfort and relaxation. When you entrust your treatment to us, you can be confident in knowing we will go above and beyond to eliminate your pain and keep you comfortable, or call 210-941-3657.

River City Dental Solutions

The team at River City Dental Solutions serves the needs of the greater San Antonio, TX, area with state-of-the-art technology and the latest innovative techniques. We can provide you and your family with beautiful smiles through a variety of procedures including:

To schedule an appointment at our dental office, contact us online or call 210-941-3657.

Root Canal Therapy in San Antonio, TX

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