What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment involves the removal of the diseased pulp along with the tooth’s nerve (located within a tooth’s root canal). The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of your tooth are then cleaned, medicated and sealed. A dental crown or other restorative treatment is used to protect and strengthen the tooth.

Is Your Toothache Getting Unbearable? Get a Root Canal in Delran NJ

An endodontic treatment saves a severely injured, cracked, or decayed tooth when its pulp (the soft inner tissue inside a tooth’s root canal) becomes inflamed or infected. If it is not treated promptly, pain or a tooth abscess (infection) results. Endodontic treatment is also known as a “root canal.”

Root canal treatment is completed in one or two office visits, depending on the presence of infection and the required treatment plan. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. With good oral hygiene, the restored tooth has the potential to last a lifetime.

What are some common symptoms?

You may need to see a root canal doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Tooth or gum pain, discoloration, or prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
• A tooth that is tender when it is touched
• A tooth abscess (pus enclosed in the tissues of the jawbone at the tip of an infected tooth)
• Pus drainage in your mouth
• Swelling or tenderness in the lymph nodes under your jaw

What happens after I am diagnosed?

After reviewing a digital X-rays of your tooth, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, recommend a treatment plan, discuss it with you, and answer your questions. If root canal surgery is needed:

• A local anesthetic is applied to the affected tooth and surrounding area
• A small, protective sheet called a “dental dam” is used to isolate the tooth to keep it clean and free of saliva during your procedure
• An opening is made in the top of the tooth and your dentist will remove the soft pulp and nerve and then shape the interior for filling
• The root canal is cleaned, medicated, and filled with a rubber-like biocompatible material (gutta percha)
• A temporary filling is placed pending your return to your general dentist
• Your general dentist will then place a permanent restoration, such as a crown, to protect the tooth

Are you having constant toothache? Infection might have spread to the nerves inside the teeth. A root canal can help you get rid of the pain. Book an appointment with our family dentist in Delran NJ.

For more information, contact us.