Root Canals
Although root canals are common, they have a bit of a bad reputation, but they are the same as any other dental treatment. Before starting, patients are given anesthetic and Dr. Vera will ensure you are completely numb.
In the simplest terms, a root canal is a procedure where the dead or dying nerve is removed from inside of a tooth, giving patients immediate pain relief. The space where the nerve used to be is then shaped, disinfected, and sealed, allowing patients to keep their natural tooth in place.
Signs You Need a Root Canal
Often, it is thought that extracting a tooth is the most convenient solution when experiencing dental pain. However, you are left with the choice of how and when to replace the tooth or teeth - and the costs can quickly add up. While there are several options to replace missing teeth, nothing is a good as your natural tooth, and a root canal procedure may be your dentist’s recommended treatment option to save your tooth.
Since a root canal is completed to remove dead or dying nerve tissue, there are several tell-tale symptoms indicating that a root canal is necessary. While a clinical examination and X-rays are needed to confirm the diagnosis, common signs to look out for are:
Significant, lingering or prolonged sensitivity to heat, cold, or pressure
A dark or discolored tooth
A pimple like bump, or abscess, near the tooth
Tenderness or swelling around the gums or root area of the tooth
History or previous trauma to the tooth or teeth
Broken, fractured, or severely decayed tooth
How is a Root Canal Performed?
In order to access the dead or dying nerve tissue inside the tooth, local anesthetic is administered and the tooth is numbed fully prior to starting treatment. Once you are comfortable, a small hole is created and and decay or infected tooth structure is thoroughly removed along with the infected nerve tissue. Next, the canal where the nerve once was is shaped, disinfected, and sealed with a material called gutta percha. From there, the tooth is restored to it’s normal size and shape using filling material and a dental crown is often placed as the final restoration to protect a once damaged tooth and maintain your beautiful smile.