A root canal is usually a simple procedure with little to no discomfort. The process of root canal therapy generally involves one to three visits to the dentist.
- Your dentist makes an opening through the top of the tooth down to the pulp chamber.
- The injured or dead pulp is taken out and the root canals are irrigated and medicated.
- At temporary filling is placed in the opening at the top of the tooth in order to protect it between procedures. Alternatively, the tooth may be left open to drain for a few days.
- The temporary filling gets removed and the pulp chamber and root canal(s) are cleaned then filled.
- A crown is placed over the tooth
In the past, teeth with damaged pulps were extracted or removed. Today, root canal therapy has provided patients with a safe solution for saving the tooth and maintaining a natural smile.
Root canal therapy is used to save a tooth with an infected or dead pulp and prevent the infection from spreading. The pulp tissue can sometimes die if it is damaged or diseased. A root canal saves the affected tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal.
Individuals may experience symptoms differently, but the most common symptoms of an injured or damaged pulp include; pain when biting down or chewing, oversensitivity of teeth with hot or cold food or beverages and facial swelling.
Your tooth cannot heal by itself, and if left untreated, further infection can lead too an abscess forming at the root of the tooth, deterioration of the underlying bone tissue and severe pain. If the infection spreads, you can also suffer from illness, blood poisoning, fevers and swelling in the face and neck.
For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us today!