Baton Rouge Dentist

Will I Need a Veneer After a Front-Tooth Root Canal?

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I have a front tooth that is turning dark and requires a root canal. Will the tooth be just as dark after the root canal? Will teeth bleaching before and after help? Or will I need a veneer? I’m sure my dental insurance will not cover all of this, but I am concerned about my smile. Thank you. Nicholas from Springfield, MO

Nicholas,

Thank you for your question.

Generally, root canal treatment darkens a tooth.

Why Does Root Canal Treatment Darken a Tooth?

Root canal treatment darkens a tooth if a dentist leaves root canal filling material in the pulp chamber, which is visible above the gumline.

How to Prevent Tooth Darkening After Root Canal Treatment

After treating the tooth, a dentist can prevent discoloration with these steps:

  • Remove root canal filler material from the pulp chamber
  • Bleach the tooth internally by sealing bleaching solution inside
  • Insert a fiberglass post into the root
  • Fill the tooth with composite

Your dentist should complete internal bleaching as soon as possible after the endodontist completes the root canal. Also, they should wait to place the post until the endodontist is confident that the root canal is successful. After removing the filler material, your dentist will wait a few weeks to check your tooth color. If it is stable, the results can last for several years.

What If Your Dentist Cannot Correct Your Tooth Color?

Root canal emergency diagram of five procedure steps
A cosmetic dentist can lighten a tooth after root canal treatment

If your dentist is not familiar with the techniques required to lighten your tooth color after root canal treatment, we recommend scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist. It may be helpful to consult with two cosmetic dentists before root canal treatment to ensure you have found a dentist to treat the tooth as soon as possible after the endodontist confirms that your root canal was successful.

Otherwise, a skilled cosmetic dentist can correct your tooth color with a porcelain veneer. A dental crown is an aggressive treatment that can weaken your tooth and increase the risk of breaking. And unless the tooth is dead, you will not need to replace it with a dental implant. Talk with the dentist about making treatment affordable with payment plans or financing.

 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post.

How Long Can I Delay Treatment for a Tooth Infection?

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Man holding face in pain and needng an affordable dentist for root canal treatmentI need some advice. I am out-of-town on business. My tooth has been hurting on and off for three weeks. This week, the pain became constant, and my cheek is a bit swollen. I will be on this assignment for two more weeks. And yes, I know that I should have taken care of this before I left home. Is this something that can wait, or do I need to find a dentist here who will take me on an emergency? Thanks for your answer. – Jason from Chicago

Jason,

Based on your description, it’s likely that you have an infection in your tooth that has spread and created an abscess.

It’s best to find an emergency dentist to treat the infection. You have two more weeks on your out-of-town assignment, during which an untreated infection will continue to spread and cause more problems.

Treating a Tooth Abscess

The dentist will give you an antibiotic to treat the abscess. Root canal treatment will clear the infection from the pulp of the tooth. That may be all that is necessary if the tooth is otherwise in good condition. If the tooth is cracked or damaged, a dentist may need to remove it.

Although many people get anxious about root canal treatment, the procedure is painless.

  • A dentist will numb your gums before injecting a local anesthetic.
  • After making an opening in the crown of your tooth, the dentist will clean out the infection deep into the roots.
  • After treatment, the dentist will cover your tooth with a temporary crown.

If You Need an Extraction

If an extraction is necessary, find an experienced cosmetic dentist to replace the tooth with a dental bridge or a dental implant when you return home. The restoration will look completely natural. In either case, you can ask each dentist about their payment options, including payment plans or financing.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS, a Baton Rouge dentist, sponsors this post.

My new crown is now sensitive to heat and cold

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Man holding face in pain and needng an affordable dentist for root canal treatmentAlthough I had not seen a dentist in more than five years, I knew I needed help when my bottom left second molar cracked. I asked co-workers about a dentist they like because none of us have dental insurance from the job. And we all need affordable care, so I looked at Google reviews for recommendations and chose a dentist. I probably should have asked my co-worker if he ever had major work done with this dentist and not just a dental cleaning. Anyway, the dentist prepared my tooth for a crown. While I wore the temporary crown, it hurt when I chewed, and it was sensitive to cold. Maybe it was too tight or something because it made my gums sore. I got the permanent crown in earlier this month, and the symptoms got worse. The dentist took another x-ray and did a cold and pressure test, and tapped on my tooth. The cold sensitivity went away quickly, but I felt no pain with the pressure test. And he tested my bite, which of course hurt because it hurts when chew. The dentist said the pressure sensitivity is expected for up to three months. So he wants me to wait. Now my tooth is sensitive to hot food. Is my tooth nerve dying.? I hate to see another dentist, but I am not a fan of pain either. What is going wrong? Thank you. Myles from GA

 

Myles,

Thank you for contacting our office and clearly describing your symptoms. We recommend that you call and endodontist today.

Issues that Can Result from a Cracked Tooth

When a tooth cracks, the tooth pulp (living tissue and nerves) can be damaged. And if the pulp is irritated and infected, it will die.

When a New Crown is Sensitive to Cold and Painful

When a new crown is sensitive to cold and pain, and the symptoms linger, it is usually a sign of an infection. Although it is common to feel some sensitivity for a few days, it should not last if the dentist adjusted your bite correctly. As the crown gets sensitive to heat, you might have irreversible pulpitis, and an endodontist will look for damage to your tooth ligaments.

Your tooth sensitivity began after crown preparation. Possible causes include:

  • Incompletely sealing the temporary crown
  • Tooth irritation during preparation
  • A combination of the above

A dentist can minimize sensitivity by:

  • Coating the tooth with a desensitizing product, but may your dentist did that
  • Cementing the temporary crown with strong material to help the tooth settle down
  • Remove the crown for root canal treatment if symptoms do not improve
  • Not cementing the final crown on an already irritated tooth

Finding a New Dentist

After root canal treatment, you will need a quality dental crown. Look for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training who offers financing or payment plans—ways to make your care affordable. Most dentists have payment options for patients who do not have dental insurance.

Do not delay getting treatment because an endodontist may be able to save your tooth.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS, a Baton Rouge dentist, sponsors this post.