Root Canals
At Schuyler Family Dental, we do root canals in our office. A Root canal is a procedure done to save your natural tooth. Inside all of your teeth is a pulp, which consists of nerves and blood vessels. Infection of the pulp can occur due to a cavity, a crack or the repeated restorations that a tooth recieves through many years. The symptoms you may experience if you need a root canal are pain to biting, sensitivity to temperature changes and/ or swelling. Occasionally no symptoms are felt.
What does Root Canal treatment involve?
Treatment often involves from one to three visits. During treatment, your general dentist removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed.
Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:
-
First, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
-
The pulp is then removed. The root canal(s) is cleaned and shaped to a form that can be filled.
-
Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help get rid of germs and prevent infection.
-
A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between dental visits if your root canal will take multiple visits.
-
The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.
-
As a final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the tooth to protect it.
How long will the restored tooth last?
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are still necessary.