Root Canal Therapy
Learn more about Root Canal treatments at Soft Touch Endodontics
What is a Root Canal?
Root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or has become infected. During a root canal, the inside of the root of the tooth is cleaned out and sealed. Without treatment the tissue surrounding the tooth becomes infected and abscesses can form.
These are some common symptoms that indicate you might need a root canal treatment:
- Tender gums which might also be swollen
- Extreme sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Severe toothache
Convenience - Root Canals in an HOUR!
A Root Canal does not have to be a long and painful procedure.
In our office, the effective use of anesthesia and modern techniques ensures that most patients not only have little to no pain, and they can have their Root Canal completed within an hour*! Soft Touch Endodontics provides a comfortable and relaxed environment that delivers the most comfortable root canal experience possible.
* Some cases require additional time, depending on the severity of the infection.
A Root Canal can save your natural teeth
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, well over 14 million every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges.
At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed, and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs in about 90% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of the consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment. We use local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort. In addition, we have nitrous oxide analgesia, if requested. You will be able to drive home after your treatment and you probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine.
When your root canal therapy has been completed a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion. Your dentist will decide on what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, we are available at all times to respond. To prevent further decay, continue to practice good dental hygiene.
The cost associated with this procedure can vary depending on factors such as the severity of damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth.
VIDEO: Top 5 reasons not to delay Root Canal treatment
Dispelling three common myths about root canals
Myth 1: Root canal treatment is painful.
Decades ago, that may have been the case, but with modern technology and anesthetics you will not experience any more pain than if you went to have a cavity filled. The pain from a severe toothache, often caused by damaged tissues in the tooth, can be easily remedied when an endodontist removes the damaged tissue through root canal treatment. In addition, endodontists are experts in pain management, and most cases can be treated quickly and comfortably.
Myth 2: Root canal treatment causes illness.
Information you may find on the Internet or elsewhere, claiming that if you receive a root canal treatment, you’re more likely to become ill or contract a disease in the future simply isn’t true. This false claim was based on long debunked and poorly designed research conducted nearly a century ago, long before modern medicine understood the causes of many diseases. There is no valid, scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to disease elsewhere in the body.
Myth 3: It’s better to pull a tooth than have root canal treatment.
Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is always the best option. Nothing artificial can replace the look or function of a natural tooth so it’s important to always consider root canal treatment as an option. Endodontic treatment has a high success rate, and many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to neighboring teeth and supporting tissue.
Video: Root Canal Treatment
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