Root Canal Therapy
If your tooth’s nerve chamber becomes infected by decay, or damaged by trauma,
root canal treatment is often the only way to save your tooth.
Inside the center of a tooth are blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves (pulp) that nourish and keep a tooth alive. When a tooth is damaged by decay or injury, this pulp may die and become infected. The problem here is this pulp is contained in a chamber. And when this pulp becomes infected, the pressure builds up in this chamber, and this is why the pain can be so severe.
Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:
- Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone
Root Canal Treatment
The typical Root Canal therapy involves the following steps:
- After the tooth is anesthetized, an opening is made through the crown into the pulp chamber.
- The length of the root canals is determined.
- Unhealthy pulp is removed. Canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
- Canals are filled and sealed. A metal post may be added for structural support or to retain restorative materials.
- The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. Usually a gold or porcelain crown adds further protection.
The material used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime, but eventually the filling or crown may need to be replaced.
Smiles by Design excels at patient comfort during such procedures. While root canal treatments can be painful, we ensure that you are as comfortable as possible, making your comfort and care our top priority.
