Many people are afraid of root canals because they don’t know much them. However, a root canal is a nearly painless procedure that helps save teeth from infection. Here are some things you should know about root canals in Edmonton.
When Are Root Canals Necessary? There are a few ways you can determine whether you need root canal therapy. First, if you have a lasting toothache, or your tooth becomes sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, it may indicate root damage. Damaged roots often require root canals to keep your tooth free of infection. Another indication you may need a root canal procedure is an abscessed tooth. When a tooth dies, an infected sore may form on the gum near the root of the tooth. A root canal procedure is the only way to completely remove this infection. A deep, painful cavity in your tooth may also indicate you need a root canal. A deep cavity may expose your tooth’s roots to bacteria, which can cause infection. Lastly, if you have tooth sensitivity or gum soreness after receiving a hit to the mouth, it may indicate that your tooth’s nerve has been severed, and that the tooth may die. In these cases, root canal may be the only way to preserve your tooth. How Does Your Dentist Perform a Root Canal? Your Edmonton dentist follows 4 basic steps when performing root canal therapy: 1. Preparation Before starting a root canal procedure, your dentist may take X-rays to examine the extent of the damage within the tooth. Then your dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the affected area. 2. Removing the Infected Pulp Once the affected area is numbed, your dentist at Westmount Dental Centre opens a hole on the chewing surface of your tooth. This hole exposes your tooth’s soft inner core, called pulp. Your dentist proceeds to remove all the infected pulp. 3. Cleaning and Filling After removing the infected pulp, your dentist uses a series of files to enlarge your tooth’s root canals so they can be filled. This process may take a few visits to complete, depending on how many roots your affected tooth has. Your dentist then fills in your root canals with a special material called gutta-percha. Gutta-percha helps keep your root canals free of further infection. 4. Sealing the Tooth After filling your root canals, your dentist seals the opening to your tooth with filling material and caps it with an artificial tooth called a crown. Crowns look and feel like natural teeth, and allow you to chew comfortably. Call Westmount Dental Centre today if you believe you need a root canal or you would like more information.