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      Home  > General Treatments  > Root Canal Therapy  
 
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Root Canal Therapy
 

Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. To save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any/all decay will be removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.

Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the only solution which is incorrect. Root canal is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die or would be removed. It is very important to understand that extraction (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.

Root canal treatment is highly successful and recommended that usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.

Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy:

  • Sensitivity to hot and cold.
  • An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
  • Sometimes no symptoms are present.
  • Severe toothache pain.
  • Swelling and/or tenderness.

Reasons for root canal therapy:

  • Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
  • Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
  • Injury or trauma to the tooth.

What does root canal therapy involve?

A root canal procedure requires one or sometimes more appointments and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist (a root canal specialist), depending on the location of the tooth and complexity of condition.

While the tooth is numb (local anesthesia), a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) will be placed around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An access opening is made on top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening, one at a time, removing the pulp, nerve tissue, and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with special dental instruments.

Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, the roots and the inside cavity of the tooth will be filled and sealed with special dental materials. A filling will be placed to cover the opening on top of the tooth. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed. This will protect the tooth and prevent it from breaking, and restore it to its full function.

After treatment, your tooth may still be sensitive, but this will subside as the inflammation diminishes and the tooth has healed.
At Healthy Smiles Dental, You will be given care instructions after each appointment. Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your root canal treatment.


 
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Healthy Smiles Dental
38029 Medical Center Avenue,
Zephyrhills, FL, 33540

Phone: (813) 783.1119
Fax: (813) 783.1913
Email: healthysmilesfl@gmail.com

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