Understanding Root Canal Therapy

Root canals often gets a bad reputation. However, without this endodontic procedure, a severely infected or decayed tooth may die or need to be extracted. Root canal therapy is an effective and time-tested procedure for saving teeth that are causing significant pain. When the inner nerve chamber of the tooth is compromised, either due to trauma, infection or decay, the result can be unbearable discomfort. This can be a warning sign that your tooth will die if it is not restored in a timely manner.

At Roswell Complete Dentistry, we perform root canal therapy with careful precision and advanced technique. Our dentists understand the importance of not only bringing a patient out of pain, but also saving their natural tooth. While a tooth extraction may seem like a more affordable and quicker solution, it will result in a missing tooth that needs to be replaced. Dental implants are far more complicated and expensive than getting a root canal.

Root Canals Aren’t Painful, They Relieve Your Pain!

Despite your past beliefs, root canal therapy is nothing to dread or fear. In fact, the procedure is no more uncomfortable than getting a dental filling. In addition to sedation dentistry and local anesthetics, our practice also utilizes comfort injection technology to ensure your experience is as painless as possible. Root canals don’t cause pain, but they can undoubtedly eliminate it. Infected or abscessed teeth can produce disruptive and even debilitating pain for many patients.

What to Expect During a Root Canal

During a root canal, one of our Roswell dentists will perform the following steps:

• Numbing: Before the procedure begins, we will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth.
• Accessing the Pulp: Once the anesthesia has taken effect, we will make a small hole in the top of your tooth to access the pulp chamber.
• Removing the Infected Tissue: Using special instruments, we will carefully remove the infected or damaged pulp tissue from inside the tooth and its roots.
• Cleaning and Shaping the Root Canals: After the pulp has been removed, we will clean and shape the inside of the root canals to prepare them for filling.
• Filling the Root Canals: Once the root canals have been shaped, we will fill them with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. This helps to seal the canals and prevent further infection.
• Temporary Filling: A temporary filling will be placed on top of the gutta-percha.
• Placement of Permanent Filling: After a few weeks, once the tooth has healed, your Roswell dentist will place a permanent filling or a crown on the tooth to protect it and restore its function.

During the procedure, you may experience some pressure and discomfort, but our dentists at Roswell Complete Dental Care will work hard to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. After the procedure, you may experience some sensitivity and discomfort for a few days, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Patients who have an infected tooth generally find immediate pain relief with root canal therapy.

Have more questions about root canals at our Roswell dental office? Please us so that you can feel at ease about the important procedure if it is suggested for you.