Root Canal Treatment
quick, comfortable procedure
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The Procedure Step-by-Step
Step 1.
Simply put, a root canal is a procedure to clean out diseased tissue and infection from the inner pulp chamber and root canal of your tooth in order to relieve pain and save your tooth. Dr. Carroll will administer local anesthetic. Once the tooth is profoundly numb, he will place a small protective rubber sheet – a “dental dam” – over the area to isolate the tooth. This protective barrier keeps our disinfecting chemicals from entering your mouth and prevents
the saliva and bacteria inside your mouth from entering the tooth while we clean it.
Step 2.
Working with his assistant under the surgical microscope, Dr. Carroll will make an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are then used to clean the diseased or infected pulpal tissue from the internal root canals and to shape the canals for the filling material.
Step 3.
After the canals are cleaned and shaped, Dr. Carroll will fill the root canals with a natural biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like substance called “gutta-percha.” The gutta percha is placed to ensure a complete sealing of the root canals. Following the sealing of the roots, Dr. Carroll will place a temporary filling in the tooth to further seal off the root canal system from the oral cavity.
Step 4.
After the treatment with Dr. Carroll, you may need to return to your dentist to have a crown – or other restoration – placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. If the treatment is successful, you should see regeneration of the missing bone within 6 months of treatment.
Reasons for Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. There are a whole host of reasons why you might need root canal treatment:
- Deep decay
- Repeated dental procedures on the tooth
- Faulty crown
- Crack or chip in the tooth
In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
There are many clinical reasons for needing root canal treatment, but there are also countless practical reasons why saving the natural tooth is a wise choice. Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.
Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is virtually painless and often leaves you with less discomfort during recovery than if you have your natural tooth extracted. Thanks to modern techniques and effective anesthesia, patients who experience root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have a tooth extracted!
When you undergo a root canal or other endodontic treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Afterwards, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection and will continue to function like any other tooth.
Benefits of Saving the Natural Tooth
There are many clinical reasons for needing root canal treatment, but there are also countless practical reasons why saving the natural tooth is a wise choice. Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.
Virtually Pain-Free Procedure
Root canal treatment is virtually painless and often leaves you with less discomfort during recovery than if you have your natural tooth extracted. Thanks to modern techniques and effective anesthesia, patients who experience root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have a tooth extracted.
Efficient & Cost-Effective
Tooth extraction can take longer than root canal treatment due to follow-up appointments required for a denture, bridge or implant; plus the cost may be higher. Most dental insurance plans cover endodontic treatment.
Visually Appealing Result
Crowns not only function like natural teeth; they look great, too. Improve your smile and laugh out loud again with root canal treatment.
Take the time to learn more about root canal treatment and some of the common misconceptions about it and then take the first step to a pain-free, healthy mouth by visiting an endodontist near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a root canal painful?
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. Of course, if you experience pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.
How much will the root canal procedure cost?
Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with an implant or bridge to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration.
Will I feel pain during or after root canal?
For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions carefully.
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.
Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment after endodontic treatment?
Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.
What happens if you don't get a root canal?
What are the signs of needing a root canal?
here are a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal—
- Severe pain while chewing or biting
- Pimples on the gums
- A chipped or cracked tooth
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
- Swollen or tender gums
- Deep decay or darkening of the gums
How to know if you need a root canal?
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterward, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Can I go to school or work after getting a root canal?
Can I drive after a root canal?
Information from AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENDODONTISTS.
