What is a Root Canal?
Root canal treatment is used to help relieve painful and problematic symptoms caused by severely decayed, damaged or infected teeth. Getting a root canal can often save a natural tooth from needing to be extracted.
The procedure may help to limit the need for more extensive dental work later. By removing the decay and bacteria from the inner tooth, dentists can often halt the spread of infection and restore the healthy portion of the tooth.
Most patients who have root canals experience little to no discomfort during the procedure and end up with a restored tooth that could last a lifetime with proper care.
The Root Canal Procedure
During a root canal, your dentist removes diseased material (blood vessels, nerves and other tissues) from the interior of a damaged tooth. Without a root canal, damaged teeth may die and need to be extracted.
Your dentist will begin by removing the diseased tissue from the tooth. Next, they will clean and disinfect the inner chamber and fill it with medicated material to prevent infection. To finish the procedure, the tooth is generally capped with a dental restoration, such as a dental crown.
Signs You Need a Root Canal
If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms below, contact us. Our dental team can diagnose the issue, and determine treatment.
- An abscess (or pimple) on the gums
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Severe toothache pain
- Swelling and/or tenderness
