Why Do You Need a Root Canal Procedure?

While the thought of having a root canal procedure usually fills patients with dread, it is a necessary procedure for those who teeth become infected in the nerves. Besides causing pain, infections, if left untreated, can become abscesses, which are much more serious and result in a loss of bone mass in the jawbone. Here at Hoye Dental, Dr. Kathleen Hoye can relieve your pain with a root canal procedure.

Although root canals may not sound pleasant to you, they are well worth it to stop your pain and improve your oral health. While there is soreness after the procedure, it is only temporary and usually nothing that over-the-counter painkillers cannot take care of.

During a root canal, Dr. Hoye removes the infection by applying a local anesthetic to the area and drilling into the tooth to create an opening in the canal. Then she is able to remove the infected tissue and clean the area. Once the infection has been removed, your tooth will be filled with a sealant and then fitted with a crown to protect it from infection in the future. The crown also helps improve the appearance and strength of the tooth.

Once the procedure is complete, you will be able to eat without experiencing pain and sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure. If you’re in pain, you don’t need to suffer. Schedule an appointment us by calling 508-823-1600 for our Taunton office and 781-444-4647 for our Needham office. For more information, visit www.HoyeDental.com.

What You Need to Know about Crowns

A dental crown is used to protect and strengthen a tooth if it has become extremely weak, fractured or decayed. It covers your affected tooth and restores it to its original shape and size while reducing pain, saving your tooth from extraction and keeping your smile functional. At Hoye Dental, we can see if a crown is necessary to save your bite.

As we age, our teeth begin to weaken, making them more susceptible to problems, such as decay, cracks and discoloration. If a tooth reaches a point where the structure is compromised and in danger of breaking, crowns can be used to reinforce and protect it. When a crown is installed, the decay is removed from the tooth and a core build-up is used to insulate the nerve and create a surface to bond the crown to. Then an impression is taken of your tooth so that a crown can be custom made for your mouth out of gold or porcelain. This process can take two to three weeks. When completed, the crown is then cemented onto the current tooth.

Crowns are made of incredibly strong material in order to protect the remaining tooth structure, and the custom fit ensures that the seam between the tooth and crown is minute to protect from further decay.

If you’re experiencing decay and pain in one of your teeth, stop by one of our offices to see if a crown can save your bite. Call 508-823-1600 to schedule an appointment in Taunton, MA, and call 781-444-4647 to schedule an appointment in Needham, MA. For more information on our practice or Dr. Kathleen Hoye, visit www.HoyeDental.com.