When tooth decay, infection, or trauma impacts the nerve inside a tooth, root canal treatment can alleviate the pain and save the tooth from extraction.
Root Canal Therapy
What is a Root Canal?
The part of the tooth that you can see is called the crown. Below that, hidden by your gum tissue, two roots anchor the tooth firmly into the jawbone, keeping it stable and firmly in place. Inside each root, a canal (the root canal) houses the nerves and blood vessels (the pulp) that keep the tooth alive. When something happens to a tooth root, like an infection or injury, your dentist can perform root canal therapy.
During a root canal procedure, your dentist removes any damaged or infected tissue, cleans the affected area, and seals it off to prevent future damage or infection. In many cases, a root canal is the only way to save the tooth.
What to Expect
Once the area is numb, your dentist makes a small access hole in the top of the tooth and gently removes the pulp tissue from inside with tiny instruments and irrigating solutions. For most teeth requiring root canal treatment, we also recommend a crown to restore function and appearance. The procedure is comparable to getting a large filling in that most patients feel very little, if any, discomfort. In fact, for patients suffering with severe tooth pain, root canal therapy provides immediate relief. Nevertheless, we know some patients will be anxious about receiving root canal treatment. We completely understand and offer sedation options to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
You don’t have to live with painful, damaged teeth. Root canal treatment can get rid of pain and keep your smile intact. Call today to request an appointment.