A root canal treatment is a safe way to save your teeth and takes about 1-3 visits. A restored tooth can last a lifetime if you continue to care for your teeth and gums with regular Oral Wellness Visits. As long as the root of a treated tooth is nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will remain healthy.
Signs a Root Canal is Needed
- Tooth or gum pain
- Tooth discoloration
- Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
- Tooth is tender when touched
- Tooth abscess [pus enclosed in the tissues of the jawbone at the tip of an infected tooth]
- Pus drainage in your mouth
- Swelling or tenderness in the lymph nodes under your jaw
- Tooth damage seen on an x-ray
Root Canal Expectations
- A local anesthetic is applied to the affected tooth and surrounding area
- A small, protective sheet, called a dental dam, is used to isolate the tooth to keep it clean and free of saliva during your procedure
- An opening is made in the top of the tooth and we will remove the soft pulp and nerve and then shape the interior for filling
- The root canal is cleaned, medicated, and filled with a rubber-like biocompatible material called gutta percha
- The filling is placed
- A permanent restoration, such as a crown, is placed to protect the tooth
