Root Canal Specialist

What is a root canal?

Although many people think of it as such, a root canal is not a painful procedure to avoid. In fact, it actually saves an infected tooth that’s causing you pain and distress -- and takes away the pain. Without a root canal, you may experience an abscess and lose the tooth altogether.

During a root canal, the dentists at Vital Dental Care remove the infected inner part of the tooth, called the pulp, cleans the inner canals, and seals the tooth, so it stays intact.

For the first day or two following the procedure, you may have some soreness as the tissues in the area heal. Over-the-counter pain medications may be used to treat this mild discomfort.

How do I know if I need a root canal?

Sometimes you don’t have any symptoms, and you only find out during a regular exam that you need a root canal. In most cases though, tooth pain lets you know an infection is present. This pain can be severe and apparent whenever you chew or apply other pressure. Other symptoms that may suggest you have a tooth infection include:

• Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
• Discoloration of the tooth
• Swelling in the surrounding gums
• A recurring pimple on the gums

What happens during a root canal?

The dentists do a thorough exam of your affected tooth and performs X-rays to get an idea of the shape of your root canals inside the impacted tooth. They also determine whether or not the infection has spread to surrounding bone.

They numb the area around the tooth, then create a tiny access hole in the tooth through which they remove any infected pulp, bacteria, and related material. They fill the cleaned canals with a compound called gutta-percha and then seal the area. They also fit your tooth for a crown to cover the treated tooth, so it looks and feels just like your natural teeth.

If you have severe tooth pain that may indicate an infection, contact Vital Dental Care to find out if a root canal is necessary. Call the office or book a consultation online.