What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is the canal-shaped interior of a tooth’s roots. The term root canal also refers to a tooth-saving treatment that is also commonly called root canal therapy.
Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?
Although root canal procedures have a bad reputation for being painful, Dr. Mott takes steps to ensure our patients experience no pain or discomfort during their procedures. In fact, the first step of a root canal procedure is to administer local anesthesia to completely numb the treatment area.
This anesthetic also helps reduce pain for some time after the procedure is complete. Once the anesthetic has worn off, patients can effectively treat any resulting pain and inflammation with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and a cold compress.
What to Expect During a Root Canal Procedure
Once anesthetics have been administered, a root canal begins with the dentist drilling into the tooth to access the tooth’s interior pulp and root canal system. We then remove all the soft tissues from inside the tooth and smooth the walls of the root canals before filling the canals and interior of the tooth with a material called gutta-percha. The tooth is then covered with a temporary filling until a permanent crown can be manufactured to fit permanently over the tooth.
Why Do You Need a Root Canal?
Treatment with a root canal is necessary when a tooth’s structure becomes compromised or weakened due to injury or disease, exposing the interior pulp of the tooth to bacteria. After being exposed to bacteria, the inside of the tooth can become infected. As a result, root canal therapy is often the last treatment available to save a patient’s natural tooth while avoiding the need for extraction.
Our dentist might recommend treatment with root canal therapy in the following circumstances:
- The patient has a severely broken or chipped tooth.
- An old amalgam filling has popped loose.
- Significant tooth decay is present.
- An injury resulted in the exposure of the tooth's interior pulp.
While most patients cringe at the idea of needing a root canal, the treatment is actually highly effective for saving a patient’s natural teeth. A root canal is usually only recommended when it is the only treatment available to save a natural tooth.
Root Canal Therapy and Restorative Dentistry in Kenmore
At Kenmore Smiles Family Dentistry, we’re pleased to provide our patients with comprehensive dental care, including root canal treatments and a variety of restorative dentistry services. To learn more or schedule a consultation, we welcome you to contact our office today.
