- Mon–Tue, Thu: 9am–6pm - Wed & Fri: 9am–4pm
Root canal therapy is treatment used to repair and save a tooth that has been infected due to a deep cavity or cracked tooth. The treatment involves removing the pulp and the nerves of the tooth, and cleaning the infected area. A tooth’s pulp and nerve are not important to a tooth’s health and function after the tooth has fully emerged from the gums. If the treatment is not performed, pus builds up at the root tip and the infection of the pulp can spread to the surrounding bone. This results in pain and swelling, and your tooth would likely have to be removed.
First, an opening is made into the pump chamber through the crown of the tooth.. Once the pulp is removed, the root canal is thoroughly cleaned. If the dentist decides to complete the root canal therapy in multiple visits, a temporary filling will be placed to protect the tooth. When you return, the dentist will remove the temporary filling, re-clean the root canal and pulp chamber, and place a permanent filling and/or crown over the tooth.
Root canal therapy has a high rate of success any many teeth undergoing the procedure can be saved to last a lifetime. Additionally, the crown or filling placed the completion of the procedure makes it hard to notice by others that you had the treatment.
Common signs include severe tooth pain while chewing, lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, swelling in the gums, tooth discoloration, and pain that wakes you up at night. These symptoms often indicate an infection inside the tooth that requires treatment.
Root canal therapy is not as painful as most people think. With modern techniques and local anesthesia, the procedure is typically no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. In fact, it helps relieve the pain caused by infection.
Delaying treatment can allow the infection to spread, leading to increased pain, swelling, and possible tooth loss. In more severe cases, the infection can affect surrounding bone and other teeth.
