Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal Therapy
Root canals are painful. You can trust Pembroke Dental Associates to handle yours with care.
Worried About Your Root Canal?
For most dental patients, "root canal" is the scariest phrase in the dictionary. At Pembroke Dental Associates,
we understand that. But we don't want you to be worried . We'll give you an honest assessment of your dental health and ensure we're handling your dental treatment as painlessly and cost affordably as possible. A t the end of the day, our
main goal is for you to be happy and healthy.
The Pembroke Dental Associates Promise
Pembroke Dental Associates
understands that dental care can be scary and expensive. That's why we believe in adding a personal touch to everything we do. When you come to our office, we don't just see dollar signs. We see someone who deserves expert dental care: someone whose dental habits now will affect their oral health for the rest of their life.
We promise to be clear with you about how we work. We'll let you know any problems we see, and we'll let you know what you can do at home to improve your dental health.
That's the Pembroke Dental Associates
promise.
Root Canal Therapy Can Save Your Tooth
Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Many years ago, diseased or injured teeth were usually pulled, but today, a tooth can often be saved through root canal therapy.
Endodontics (en-do-DON-tics) is a branch of dentistry that specializes in treating diseases or injuries to the dental pulp. Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist to perform your root canal procedure.
When is Treatment Needed?
Treatment is needed for the infected of inflamed pulp. The pulp is soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. When the pulp becomes infected or inflames, treatment is needed.
Pulp infection and inflammation most often occur if you have:
- a cracked or chipped tooth
- a deep cavity or filling
- other serious injury to the tooth
All of these can allow bacteria to enter the pulp and cause infection and/or inflammation.
General Steps of Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy may involve one or more dental visits.
Your dentist or endodontist will perform the necessary steps to save your tooth.
01
Your tooth is numbed for your comfort
A thin, flexible sheet of latex or non-latex material called a rubber dam is placed over your tooth to keep it dry. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
02
Your tooth's nerve or pulp is removed
from the pulp chamber and the canal of each root of the tooth. Each root is cleaned, shaped and disinfected so that is can be filled.
03
Your dentist may place medicine
in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help treat the infection.
04
The treated root canals are filled
with a rubber-like material to seal them.
05
A temporary filling is placed in your tooth
to prevent infection of the root canals. You may be given antibiotics if the infection has spread beyond the end of the root(s).
06
Finally, your dentist removes the temporary filling and restores the tooth with a crown or permanent filling
to strengthen it and improve the way it looks. If an endodontist performs the procedure, they usually recommend that you return to your general dentist for this step.
How long will the restored tooth last?
When properly restored and maintained, a tooth with a root canal filling can last for many years. But, just like any other tooth, it can become decayed or fractured or the tissue around it can get gum disease. Professional cleanings and regular dental exams will help keep your mouth healthy- whether you've had a root canal therapy or not.