Relieve Tooth Pain and Preserve Your Smile
A tooth infection can be very painful. We know that no one wants to hear that they need a root canal. If you’ve received this news, you’re not alone. At Peace Haven Family Dentistry, we’ve treated—and saved—many teeth with root canal therapy.
Saving your natural tooth through a root canal treatment has several benefits:
- Preserve a more natural appearance
- Maintain efficient chewing
- Retain biting force and sensation
- Protect surrounding teeth from unnecessary strain or wear
- Most importantly, saving your tooth!
Why do I need a root canal?
Your tooth consists of several layers. The outer layer is comprised of a hard, white enamel. Beneath your enamel is another hard layer called the dentin. And underneath the dentin is a soft tissue called pulp.
Your tooth’s pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The pulp helps the root of your tooth grow during the early years of your development. After the tooth is fully formed, the pulp provides vitality to the tooth and its nutritive, sensory, and protective functions.
However, the pulp or nerve can sometimes become irritated, inflamed or infected and need a root canal for a variety of reasons:
- Deep decay
- Cracked or chipped tooth
- Large fillings
- Trauma
- Repeated dental procedures on that tooth
- Decay underneath an old filling or crown
Once your tooth’s pulp is damaged, it begins to break down. Bacteria will begin to grow and multiply within your tooth. It’s the growth of bacteria and other dying pulp remnants inside of your tooth that causes pain, irritation, infection, and worse. In this case, once root canal therapy is performed, your tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth can be nourished by the surrounding tissues.
If left untreated, the pulp inflammation or tooth infection can lead to further dental problems:
- Swelling in the mouth
- Swelling of the face, neck or head
- Bone loss
- Tooth abscess
How will a root canal save my tooth?
A root canal removes all bacteria causing inflammation and infection of your tooth’s pulp. Without treatment, your tooth infection—and the pain—will only get worse. And the health of your tooth will continue to decline until it becomes necessary to remove the tooth.
What can I expect during my root canal treatment?
At Peace Haven Family Dentistry, we strive to make your experience as comfortable as possible during your root canal treatment. And a root canal treatment can be completed in one or two office visits.
During your root canal, your Peace Haven dentist will remove the infected pulp from your tooth. Then we’ll carefully clean and disinfect the inside of your tooth. Once we have removed all of the infection and prepared your tooth, we will fill the open area with a rubber-like material. Then your tooth will be restored with a filling or crown.
After the root canal procedure, your tooth will look like new and function normally. You’ll be able to continue with all of your activities without worry. You’ll retain your natural smile and continue eating and drinking all of your normal foods and beverages.