At Arrowhead Dental, our goal is to help you maintain a beautiful and functional smile. Although sometimes it is inevitable, we try to avoid tooth extractions. To save your tooth from an extraction, we may recommend root canal treatment. A root canal is a common procedure where we remove an infection that has settled deep within the tooth. Contrary to popular opinion, today’s root canals involve little or no discomfort thanks to advancements in modern dentistry.

Infected or Damaged Dental Pulp

The pulp is soft tissue within the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. When the pulp becomes infected, serious discomfort may arise. The most common causes of infection are untreated tooth decay and severe structural damage to the tooth. If the damaged pulp is not removed, the tissues around the root will soon become infected. Even if there is no pain, the infection-causing bacteria can significantly damage the underlying bone. Without proper treatment, your tooth may need to be removed.

Root Canal Procedure

During a routine appointment, our dentists and team will check to make sure that a root canal treatment is necessary. Once we have set a treatment plan, we can schedule the procedure.

Using a needle, we will administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth. You may feel a slight pinch, but that is about it. Once the area is properly numb, we will place a dental dam, or small rubber sheet, to keep the tooth clean and dry during the procedure.

Then, using very small tools, we will access the inside of the tooth by creating an opening in the bite plane (top portion). We will then clear away the damaged and diseased pulp and reshape the inner chamber. Next, we will flush out the chamber with an antimicrobial solution and wash away any remaining pulp. This will kill any lingering bacteria and reduce your risk of future infection.

Once the pulp chamber has been properly emptied, cleaned and dried, we will fill it using a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Filling the chamber will prevent future infection and strengthen the structure of the hollow tooth. After the gutta-percha is in place, we will close the opening in the tooth with a temporary filling.

After a few weeks, we can finish treatment and place a permanent crown or some other type of restoration. Your tooth may not be capable of supporting a strong bite force on its own, which is why a crown may be necessary.