Root Canal also known as Endodontic Treatment
Few words inspire more fear in dental patients than “root canal.” It doesn’t need to be that way. The dentists at our Surrey dental clinic know how to minimize any discomfort during a root canal procedure.
A root canal procedure (endodontic treatment) is often required to save an infected tooth. Bacteria can enter a tooth through a cavity or a damaged filling. When this happens, the tooth can become abscessed, meaning the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected. An abscessed tooth can be quite painful and cause swelling in the surrounding gum tissues. If left untreated, it can cause several oral health problems. A root canal procedure removes the infected pulp and any other infected tissues within the tooth.
Your Surrey dentist may learn that you need a root canal procedure during a routine checkup, from dental x-rays, or because you come into our office complaining of a toothache. Some of the signs that you may require root canal treatment include the following:
- Sensitivity when you tap or press on a tooth
- Moderate to severe pain when you use the tooth while chewing
- Moderate to severe, lingering pain when you eat or drink hot or cold foods or beverages
- A toothache so severe that it keeps you from sleeping or wakes you during the night
- Pus or blood oozing from an abscess on your gum.
A root canal treatment is usually completed in one or two visits to our dental clinic in Surrey. Here’s a short description of the typical procedure:
- Before anything happens, the area will be anesthetized to minimize discomfort.
- An access point will be opened in the biting (top) surface of the affected tooth.
- Each root canal is prepared by cleaning and shaping it.
- An inert material called gutta percha is used to fill the root canals.
- Once filled, the root canals are sealed.
- Placing a crown on the affected tooth is usually the final step in the procedure.