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South & North Oak Dental Office
South & North Oak Dental Office
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Root Canal Thereapy
When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected or abscessed, Root
Canal Therapy is the only way to save the tooth. A tooth can become
abscessed as a result of deep decay, a cracked tooth, or trauma to
the tooth. The only alternative to Root Canal Therapy is an
Extraction.
During Root Canal Therapy,
the tooth is "numbed" (just like having a filling). Then the
unhealthy nerve is removed and medication is placed in the tooth to
treat the bacterial abscess (infection). After the infection is
removed and treated, a filling is placed in the roots where the
unhealthy nerve was.
A tooth that has undergone
Root Canal Therapy is more brittle and must be crowned to give the
tooth sufficient strength. The tooth is cared for in the same way
as other natural teeth. Brush and floss daily, and visit your
dentist for regular preventative dental check-ups.
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High-Tech Root Canal Therapy
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The way root canal
therapy is performed today is vastly different than those done a
few years ago, not to mention a decade ago. The potential level for
quality care has dramatically increased. It is a thing of the past
to do root canals in five to six appointments, or by "touch or
feel" because we could not see. Root canals can be done painlessly,
faster, and more accurately due to the new technology
available. |
| Non-surgical Root Canal Therapy
Decayed ToothRoot Canal Therapy is a dental procedure, performed
with local anesthetic, which involves the removal of the nerve
inside of the tooth because it has become irreversibly damaged or
infected. This is usually due to the entry of bacteria into the
center most part of the tooth called the dental pulp (nerve). ROOT
CANAL is a commonly used term for endodontic therapy or root canal
therapy. This procedure involves the removal of the entire nerve
system, as well as cleaning, shaping and 3-dimensional filling of
the canal system with gutta percha and a dental sealer. The
procedure enables you to keep your natural tooth, which is
preferable to any type of replacement.
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What Happens During Root Canal
Therapy?
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Step one:
After the tooth is "numbed", a small opening is made into the
pulp chamber. The canals are located and measured, so they can be
cleansed and shaped.
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| Step two:
The canals are filled with a rubber-like material called
gutta-percha and the opening is sealed with sterile cotton pellets
and a temporary filling.
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Step three:
The tooth is typically restored within a couple of weeks. A
crown is placed over the treated tooth in order to protect it, and
if the tooth lacks sufficient tooth structure to hold the core
build-up, a post may be placed inside. Any areas of infection
around the roots will begin to heal.
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The number of visits necessary to complete a root canal will
vary depending upon the degree of infection, the number of canals
in the tooth, if the canals are calcified, the anatomy of your
tooth, and the complexity of the procedure. We always strive to
achieve the best possible result; therefore, your treatment may
take one visit, or it may take more.
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