Don't put off a root canal because of anxiety! Updated technology, sedation dentistry options, and a caring team ensure a stress-free procedure!

We Can Help Stop Toothache Pain and Swelling

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Root Canals

As long as there have been root canals, patients have dreaded root canals. It’s true that decades ago the procedure was a challenge for many people. But that was then, and a lot has changed with modern dentistry.

Today, Dr. Darin Bateman performs comfortable root canals at our dental office with the aid of advanced technology and techniques. We don’t start your procedure until we know your mouth is numb and you won’t feel anything. If you need a little help to relax, we have sedation dentistry options we can customize to your needs.

Root Canals Relieve Pain

If you ever had an infected root canal, what you probably remember the most is the pain. You’re in pain because there’s an infection developing inside your tooth. The only way to relieve the pain is with a root canal that eliminates the infection.

Your tooth is made up of a hard outer layer of enamel, and a softer layer beneath it called dentin. Running through the dentin is dental pulp that carries the blood supply and nerves that keep your tooth healthy and alive.

Once decay, infection or trauma reaches the pulp, the tooth becomes inflamed or infected, and you get a toothache. If we don’t perform a root canal, eventually our only option will be to extract the tooth to relieve your pain and protect your overall oral health.

Signs You May Need a Root Canal

If you notice any of these symptoms, you may have an infected root canal:

Intense pain that worsens over time
Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Discomfort when you bite down or touch the tooth
A raised bump or “pimple” on the gums
Tooth discoloration

But be aware that there are cases where an infected tooth doesn’t show any symptoms. Routine dental checkups are important because if we detect a problem with a tooth, Dr. Bateman can take immediate steps to correct it before it causes you pain.

The Root Canal Procedure

Modern root canals are not a complicated or stressful process. Technology like digital x-rays allows Dr. Bateman to plan your treatment for a more straightforward procedure. When you have an experienced dentist, amenities like pillows and blankets, and soothing sedation options, you have the recipe for a comfortable, stress-free root canal procedure.

First Dr. Bateman will numb your tooth with a local anesthetic, and our patients tell us that his injections are the most comfortable they've ever had. This deadens the nerves in and around the tooth so you won’t feel anything. He makes a small opening in the tooth to access the interior and remove the infected material. The tooth is then disinfected, filled, and sealed.

While your tooth remains intact after the procedure, it is weaker. In most cases, Dr. Bateman will recommend a dental crown to strengthen the tooth and protect it.

Do You Need a Root Canal?

If you think you might need root canal treatment, please call Eagle Mountain Family Dental. In many cases, we can see you the same day to relieve your discomfort and save your tooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you help with my dental anxiety?

At Eagle Mountain Family Dental, we recognize that dental anxiety is a significant problem that many of our patients face. For your comfort, Dr. Bateman is trained and certified to provide safe sedation including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation and Intravenous (IV) conscious sedation.

Nitrous oxide is a time-tested solution for calming patients during their procedure. It’s been safely used for over 100 years and is even mild enough to use with children.

Also called inhalation sedation, nitrous oxide is a slightly sweet-smelling gas that you inhale through a small, comfortable nasal mask. In just a few moments, you will start to feel very calm and relaxed. You may feel euphoric, and the sights and sounds around you will seem far away. The goal of nitrous oxide is not to put you to sleep, although you may feel drowsy. The effects of nitrous leave your body quickly so that you can drive yourself home from your appointment.

With oral conscious sedation, Dr. Bateman prescribes a calming medication that you should take about an hour before your appointment. Oral sedation is heavier than nitrous oxide, and Dr. Bateman recommends it for patients with more intense anxiety. The medication will make you feel very calm and relaxed, and some patients do fall asleep during treatment. This medication stays in your body for several hours, so you will need someone to drive you safely to and from your appointment.

With IV conscious sedation, an IV is placed in your hand or elbow and medications are administered to make you relax - often times a patient falls asleep during the appointment. A side effect of this medication is amnesia, so often times patients forget the experience. You will need someone to drive you safely to and from your appointment because this medication also stays in your body for several hours.

We want to help you get the comfortable dental care you need and deserve. If you would like to learn more about sedation dentistry at our Azle, TX dental office, please call us at (817) 444-3890.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr-Darin Bateman-Eagle-Mountain-Family-Dental

Dr. Darin Bateman DMD, MS, ABGD
Dentist

Dr. Darin Bateman grew up in eastern Idaho. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science in 2010 from Brigham Young University and completed dental school at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts in 2014. He spent 8 years as a dentist in the United States Air Force completing both an AEGD-1 and AEGD-2 residency during that time (a total of 3 years of additional education). Dr. Bateman became a Board Certified General Dentist in 2021. Dr. Bateman and Dr. Reeves have worked diligently to ...