Root Canal

What is root canal therapy?

Root canal therapy, or root canal, is a type of oral surgery used to preserve a damaged or decaying permanent tooth. During a root canal, your Riverside Dental Associates provider carefully removes the infected or inflamed center of your tooth, called the pulp. The pulp isn’t necessary for your tooth’s survival. It only provides sensations like hot and cold.

By removing your tooth pulp, your dentist can prevent further infection and avoid the need for an extraction or more complex procedure.

Why would I need root canal therapy?

The team at Riverside Dental Associates uses root canal therapy to address infected or inflamed tooth pulp. Some of the most common causes of pulp damage include:

• Deep decay
  
• Untreated cavities
  
• Chipped teeth
  
• Cracked teeth
  
• An injury to one or more teeth
  

You might also benefit from root canal therapy if you have a tooth that’s undergone multiple dental procedures. These procedures can affect the integrity of your tooth and increase your risk of needing an extraction.

What happens during root canal therapy?

At Riverside Dental Associates, the team performs root canal therapy in the office. Prior to surgery, you’re placed under anesthesia, so it’s important you have a friend or family member available to drive you home.

On the day of your appointment, your dentist administers a local anesthetic. After the anesthetic sets in, your dentist carefully drills an access hole in the top of your affected tooth.

Next, your dentist removes the inflamed tooth pulp. Then, your dentist rinses out the center of your tooth (or root canals) with an antiseptic solution. After disinfecting the center of your tooth, your dentist fills it with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha.

Last but not least, your dentist places a temporary crown on your tooth and prescribes antibiotics.

You take your antibiotics for a week and return to Riverside Dental Associates afterward to receive a permanent crown.

Is root canal therapy painful?

Thanks to modern surgical tools and treatment techniques, root canal therapy is safe and well-tolerated. You might experience some pain and swelling in the first few days following your root canal, but this should subside quickly, especially if you take over-the-counter painkillers and rest.

To request your root canal therapy consultation today, call the office or request an appointment online.