Root Canals

A root canal therapy is a procedure performed in order to save a tooth that is infected and would otherwise require extraction. There are many reasons teeth can become infected.  Some include cavities, previous large fillings, crowns, cracks, trauma and extreme wear.

Many a times, a damaged tooth requires the root canal treatment to reduce pain and give healthy teeth. With root canal treatment, the damaged teeth or the pain causing teeth is removed. Inside the tooth, under the hard layer of enamel, lies the pulp, a soft tissue that contains blood, blood vessels and nerves. Beneath this pulp, in the roots of the teeth, inflammation can cause pain and infection.

In root canal treatment, the pulp is removed, and root cavities are filled with a filling after cleaning it from inside. The soft tissue and these nerves are safe to remove as they have no function after the teeth has fully grown. A root canal also offers many other benefits like healthy teeth, proper food chewing and biting, providing natural appearance and protection of adjacent teeth from strain. A root canal is also known as an endodontic treatment and it requires help from a specialist professional dentist, who can effectively handle this treatment. The treatment requires precise use of anesthesia as the process can be painful. However, a professional can handle the situation and reduce the pain effectively. Jessica Eagan DDS can make the process very simple for you.

We make sure that the root canal procedure is pain-free and is as short as possible.
Endodontic therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection.  In order to save the tooth, the nerve, blood supply, bacteria, and any decay are removed and cleaned. This results in a space that is filled with a material called gutta-percha.  After the tooth has healed, a restoration such as a crown is needed to protect tooth.  Doing so will protect tooth from bacteria leakage and preserves natural tooth from stress/ fracture.  

Undergoing an endodontic procedure is treatment of choice in order to save the tooth that otherwise die and must be extracted.  Many patients believe that removing a problematic tooth is the best (and most economical) solution.  But, extracting, or pulling a tooth, could ultimately be costlier and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.  Furthermore, it could also cause loss of bone around the extraction site.

While root canal therapy has a high degree of success, it is not 100% guaranteed.   It is very important to have a permanent restoration (usually a crown) placed within 30 days of the root canal.  If a permanent restoration is not placed, the tooth can fracture or further decay to the point where the root canal must be re-done or, worse, the tooth must be removed.

Don’t suffer any longer with oral pain!
Call us to request an appointment.  305-856-1178