What is a root canal?
A root canal is a procedure that treats an infected or damaged tooth by removing its pulp.
Your pulp is the soft inner layer of your tooth, composed of blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerve fibers. When it gets infected, it swells, pinching the nerves and causing a great deal of pain.
With a root canal, your endodontist can remove your infected pulp without compromising the rest of your tooth structure. In the past, the only way to treat an infected tooth was to remove it entirely.
What are the indications that I need a root canal?
If you have an infected tooth, then you likely need a root canal. Some signs of an infected tooth include:
- Severe toothache
- Increased sensitivity in the tooth to hot and cold
- Darkened or discolored tooth
- Swollen, tender, or inflamed gums
- A small pimple on your gums near your tooth root
- A bad taste in your mouth
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment immediately with the Horizon Dental team to assess whether you need root canal therapy.
Do I really need a root canal?
An infected tooth only gets worse when left untreated. Putting off your root canal could ultimately lead to:
- Tooth loss
- Infection of nearby teeth, gums, or jawbone
- Swelling of the face, neck, and head
- Sepsis
Unlike what you’ve learned from movies and television shows, root canals are no more painful than a filling. A root canal actually alleviates your pain by treating your infected tooth.
What happens during a root canal?
First, your endodontist takes a CT scan of your mouth to assess the extent of your infection. This scan is used as a roadmap for your procedure. Next, the team anesthetizes your tooth and protects the rest of your mouth with a rubber sheet called a dental dam.
Once you’re numb, your provider drills a small access hole in the top of your infected tooth, then uses a series of endodontic files to remove the decayed pulp within. Next, the inside of your tooth is cleaned and sterilized and filled with a rubbery compound called gutta-percha.
Finally, your dentist uses a filling to seal the access hole in the top of your tooth and restores the strength and structure of your tooth with a dental crown.
Don’t wait any longer to treat your infected tooth. Schedule your root canal today by calling the Horizon Dental office or booking a visit online.
