Root Canals

relieve pain & save your smile

 

Overview

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure designed to remove inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth. The tooth is then thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and sealed with a filling material. This treatment eliminates bacteria from the infected root canal, prevents reinfection, and preserves the natural tooth.

Signs you may need a root canal

  • Persistent tooth pain: While many factors can cause tooth discomfort, deep, lingering pain that radiates to your jaw, face, or other teeth could indicate an infection.

  • Pain when applying pressure: If your tooth hurts when eating or touching it, it may suggest nerve damage near the tooth pulp.

  • Swollen gums: Infected teeth can cause gum swelling or tenderness in the surrounding area.

  • Pimple on the gums: Infections may lead to pimples or boils on the gums, often accompanied by oozing pus with an unpleasant odor.

  • Swollen jaw: A swollen jaw may occur if pus from an infected tooth is unable to drain properly.

  • Tooth discoloration: Infection in the tooth pulp can restrict blood flow, causing the tooth to darken.

  • Loose tooth: Pus from an infected tooth can weaken the surrounding bone, resulting in a loose tooth.

Procedure Details

  1. Anesthesia: Your dentist administers a local anesthetic to numb the infected tooth and surrounding gums. Some medications can cause drowsiness, so you will need to arrange transportation after the procedure.

  2. Placement of a dental dam: A thin, flexible rubber sheet (dental dam) is placed over the infected tooth and nearby gums to keep the area dry during treatment.

  3. Access to the pulp: A small hole is drilled into the crown of the tooth to access the tooth pulp.

  4. Removal of infected tissue: Using specialized instruments, your dentist carefully removes the nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues from inside the tooth pulp.

  5. Cleaning and disinfection: The empty pulp chamber and root canals are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to eliminate bacteria and debris.

  6. Filling the canals: The pulp chamber and root canals are filled with a flexible, rubber-like material provide stability and seal the space.

  7. Temporary seal: A temporary dental filling is applied to seal the tooth and protect it from bacteria until the final restoration is complete.

  8. Placement of a dental crown: To protect the treated tooth and restore its function, a custom dental crown is placed.

Recovery

Typically, it takes less than a week to recover from a root canal