Root Canal Therapy in Pine Beach, NJ
At Century Dental East, Dr. Mariya Medlenov offers root canals to save infected teeth that would have otherwise needed to be removed. Our dentist will help restore your teeth to their strongest and healthiest so that you can enjoy your natural smile for years to come! If you think you might need a root canal in Pine Beach, New Jersey, call 732-341-6010 to schedule your next appointment!
Commonly called a root canal, root canal treatment is a type of endodontic therapy that is often recommended if the tooth pulp and nerves become infected or damaged. This may occur if injury or decay reaches deep into the tooth, past the outer enamel layer. When left untreated, this type of infection and disease may cause the tooth to die and necessitate tooth extraction. To restore the health of the tooth and avoid the need for extraction, our skilled dentist will remove the infected and injured tissues from within the tooth, clean the tooth, and fill it with a medicated material. We will then cap the tooth with a restoration, such as a dental crown, to return the tooth to its original shape and structure. In most cases, a root canal can be completed in only one or two comfortable visits to our office.
Root canal treatment has a reputation for being a painful treatment. In reality, however, root canal treatment can often be completed with minimal discomfort thanks to advanced techniques, tools and anesthesia. Our dentist and entire team work hard to provide you with a pleasant and comfortable experience each time you visit our office. To learn more about root canal treatment, we welcome you to contact us today. We are committed to restoring your smile’s health.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
Not every toothache means a root canal, and some teeth that need one cause no pain at all.
Symptoms that point to the nerve
The pulp sits at the center of the tooth. When it becomes inflamed or infected, it tends to announce itself in fairly characteristic ways.
If a tooth is causing severe pain or you have swelling, see our emergency dental care page and call us rather than waiting for a routine slot.
Lingering pain after hot or cold. A twinge that fades in a second or two is usually ordinary sensitivity. Pain that carries on for a minute or more afterward is more concerning.
Pain that wakes you at night. Throbbing that is worse when you lie down is a common feature of pulp inflammation.
Pain on biting or tapping the tooth. This can indicate that the infection has spread beyond the root tip.
A swollen or tender gum near the tooth. A small bump or pimple on the gum may be draining an abscess.
Facial or jaw swelling. Call us promptly if this happens, particularly if it is spreading.
A tooth that has darkened. A single tooth turning gray can mean the pulp has died, sometimes years after an injury.
What Root Canal Treatment Involves
The appointment is closer to having a filling placed than most people expect.
During the appointment
The tooth and the surrounding area are numbed thoroughly before anything begins, so the treatment itself should not hurt. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed, and the canals inside the roots are cleaned and shaped. The canals are then sealed. What you mainly notice is having to keep your mouth open, rather than any pain. Tell us if you feel anything sharp and we will add more anesthetic.
Recovery
The tooth is often tender to bite on for a few days as the surrounding tissue settles, and over-the-counter pain relief is usually enough. Wait until the numbness has worn off before eating, and favor the other side while the tooth is tender. Contact us if discomfort is increasing rather than easing, or if swelling develops.
Protecting the tooth afterward
A treated tooth has had its inner tissue removed and becomes more brittle over time, particularly a back tooth that takes heavy chewing loads. For that reason a dental crown is usually placed afterward to hold the tooth together and prevent it fracturing. Getting that final restoration done on schedule matters as much as the root canal itself.
Why Saving the Tooth Is Usually Worth It
Patients often ask whether it would be simpler to just have the tooth taken out.
What a natural tooth does that a gap cannot
Your own tooth is anchored in bone by a ligament that senses pressure and lets you chew with precision. It also holds the neighboring teeth in position and helps maintain the bone around it. When a tooth is removed, the teeth on either side tend to drift, the opposing tooth can over-erupt, and the bone in that area gradually reduces.
The alternative is rarely the end of it
Extraction is quicker on the day, but replacing the tooth afterward with an implant or a bridge is a longer process involving more appointments. Where a tooth has a reasonable amount of sound structure left, root canal treatment followed by a crown is generally the more conservative route.
What happens if the infection is left
An infected pulp does not resolve on its own. Pain often subsides once the nerve dies, which can be mistaken for improvement, but the infection continues at the root tip and can form an abscess and damage the surrounding bone. Treating it sooner keeps the options open. Most root canals begin as untreated decay, which is one more reason to keep up with regular dental exams and to have cavities restored with a dental filling while they are still small.
Root Canal Treatment in Pine Beach and Ocean County
Century Dental East is located at 241 Washington Avenue in Pine Beach and cares for patients from across Ocean County. If you are anxious about the treatment, say so when you call. Knowing in advance lets us plan the appointment around that rather than discovering it in the chair.
The cost of root canal treatment depends on which tooth is involved and how many canals it has, and on the restoration that follows. Our team can review your coverage and go through financial options before treatment starts.
Talk to Us About a Painful Tooth
If a tooth is hurting, call Dr. Mariya Medlenov at (732) 341-6010 or reach us via our contact page.
Visit Our Pine Beach Office
Century Dental East — Gentle, Modern Dentistry for Families in Pine Beach, NJ.
241 Washington Avenue, Pine Beach, NJ 08741
(732) 341-6010
Hours
Mon 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tue 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wed 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thu 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun Closed
Serving patients across
- Toms River
- Lakewood
- Lakehurst
- Forked River
- Bayville
- Beachwood
- Pine Beach
- Barnegat Light
- Ocean Gate
- Maple Shade
- Leisure Village
- Cedar Grove
- Waretown
- Howardsville
- Brookville
- Holly Park
- South Toms River