At Imprint Dental, we recognize that root canal therapy is perceived as one of the most dreaded dental procedures. We want to reassure you that the routine endodontic treatment is comparable to having a cavity filled. More importantly, the simple and straightforward treatment can alleviate your pain and save a tooth that may otherwise need to be extracted.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Inside every one of your teeth is a space known as the pulp chamber, which houses nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. The tooth’s pulp extends from the crown, the part visible above the gum line, all the way to the tips of the roots.

Root canal therapy is needed to treat tooth pulp inflammation or infection. Common causes of pulp damage include deep decay, complications from large fillings, damaged or leaking fillings, chipped or cracked teeth, trauma, or repeated dental procedures. Root canal therapy involves removing the pulp and clearing the infection to relieve your pain and save the affected tooth.

Root Canal Therapy

What Happens if You Do Not Get a Needed Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal therapy is the only solution to save a tooth with damaged pulp. Left untreated, the infection and inflammation may spread to the tissues around the root of the tooth and jawbone, leading to serious complications, including severe pain or an abscess. An abscessed tooth may result in swelling of the face and bone loss around the tooth’s root. Moreover, the infection may enter the bloodstream, causing serious health complications.

The only alternative to having a root canal procedure is having the damaged tooth extracted. That should be a last resort because maintaining your natural teeth is always the top priority.

What Is the Root Canal Procedure?

Dr. Price will numb the area with the help of local anesthesia. If you are anxious about the procedure, you may also opt for nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation to help you relax during treatment.

Once you are comfortable, Dr. Price will make a small opening in the crown of the tooth to access and remove the inflamed or infected pulp tissues from the pulp chamber and the root canals. Next, he will clean, shape, and disinfect the root canals, then fill them with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. The last step is placing a temporary filling to seal the tooth and prevent reinfection.

After root canal therapy, the tooth will need a dental crown to strengthen it and recover its function and appearance. With meticulous oral hygiene care and regular dental exams and cleanings, your root canal-treated tooth can last a lifetime!