Root Canals

Inside the tooth is a space called the pulp chamber that houses soft tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Root canal therapy is an endodontic treatment needed to restore a tooth with infected or inflamed pulp resulting from deep decay, repeated dental procedures, chips, cracks, or trauma.

Root canal therapy involves removing the diseased dental pulp to restore the damaged tooth to a healthy, functional state. With proper care, your treated tooth can last a lifetime!

Tooth pulp damage left untreated will never heal on its own. The pain may disappear temporarily, but that does not mean that the infection is gone or the tooth is healthy again. As the infection progresses, it can lead to complications, such as an abscess, which may cause swelling of the face and bone loss around the tooth's root. The infection can also enter the bloodstream and spread to other areas of the body, with serious health consequences.

If tooth pulp inflammation or infection is present, a root canal procedure is the only way to save your natural tooth. Otherwise, you’ll require an extraction, meaning you may need a dental bridge or implant to restore your smile.

Symptoms of tooth pulp infection or inflammation requiring a root canal treatment may include:

• Severe and persistent tooth pain
• Discomfort when biting and chewing
• Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Gum swelling and tenderness
• Tooth discoloration
• A pimple or bump on the gum indicating an abscess

In some cases, root canal problems may be present without any symptoms. That's why it's essential to keep up with your twice-a-year routine dental exams. Our thorough evaluation of every aspect of your oral health will ensure any condition is diagnosed and treated promptly to prevent any complications.

In the past, root canals were considered complex treatments and usually required multiple, lengthy appointments to complete. With today's advances in endodontic technology and techniques, most treatments only require a single office visit.

We will start by numbing the area using local anesthesia. You can also opt for dental sedation, if needed, to make sure you are comfortable and relaxed.

The procedure involves making a small opening in the affected tooth's crown to access and remove the diseased pulp tissue. Next, we will clean and reshape the pulp chamber and root canals. The last step is filling the root canals with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and sealing the tooth to prevent the risk of further infection.

After your root canal treatment, your tooth will require a dental crown to protect it and restore its health and function. We will remove some tooth structure to make room for your restoration and make an impression of your teeth to send to our lab for fabrication. We will place a temporary crown over the prepared tooth to protect it.

When your new permanent crown is ready, you'll return to our office. We'll check your restoration for a proper fit and then cement it in place. We'll make any adjustments needed to make sure it's comfortable. Your treated tooth will look and function just like your natural teeth, and with proper care, it can last a lifetime!