Smile Creations Dental

Root Canal Treatment

There are tiny canals within your tooth that may become infected. This leads to the pulp inside your tooth also becoming infected as well. We can help to remove any infection by performing the root canal procedure. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.

Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be: 

 

• Spontaneous throbbing pain.

• Pain while biting or application of pressure.

• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.

• Injury or trauma to the tooth.

• A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums.

• Swelling and tenderness in the adjacent gums.

• Severe decay or untreated cavities.

• Bone loss around the tip of the root (signs of infection).

• Sometimes no symptoms are present.

Root canal therapy is often completed in one visit, however it may take multiple visits depending on the complexity of the canals. The tooth will then possibly need a post and core and a crown in order to re-establish normal form and function. This decision will be based upon several additional factors.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

1. Are root canal treatments painful?

Root canals are not painful. The procedure itself is painless and comfortable. Local anesthesia to the area numbs up the tooth and the surrounding area. It is usually the pain that leads up to the root canal treatment. Root canal procedure helps alleviates the pain. There maybe slight discomfort for a few days after the root canal treatment because the tissues around the tooth can become swollen.

 

2. Why bother getting a root canal when the tooth has to be extracted anyway in a few years?

This is not true. Root canal treatments are performed on teeth that can be saved for many years to come. However, teeth that had root canal treatment are weaker than others and are very prone to recurrent decay, and fracture. This is why a permanent filling and a crown is often recommended after a root canal procedure. The permanent filling and crown offers protection and restoration of form, shape, and function on a root canal tooth.

 

3. How long does a root canal procedure take?

It depends on the tooth and the complexity of the canal system. Most root canals can be accomplished in 45 to 90 minutes. There are special cases where the canal system is more complex which may require additional visits.

 

4. What if a root canal was recommended? But it doesn't hurt me and I chose to ignore it?

Most teeth that need root canal treatment will not cause pain. Root canal treatment is needed often as a result of infection in the nerve of the tooth. An infection in the mouth can spread to the rest of the body, causing harm to other organs. An infection can progress and cause dental pain, swelling and lost of teeth.

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