Save Your Smile With Root Canal Therapy
What do you do when you have a tooth infection or a badly damaged tooth? In days past, extraction may have been the only option. Extraction isn’t always a bad thing, but those missing teeth usually need to be replaced, which can prove costly and invasive.
Fortunately, dentistry has come a long way. At Carson Dental Care, Dr. Aluning may be able to save an infected or badly damaged tooth from extraction with root canal therapy.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy, also known as endodontics and endodontic treatment, is a surgical process for treating an infection or significant damage. Dr. Aluning will remove any infected and damaged tooth material, fill the tooth with a dental filling, and seal the tooth off with a crown. Once the process is complete, the tooth is healthy and fully functioning again.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
Despite the negative reputation root canals have gained, undergoing treatment when necessary offers a number of benefits including:
- Saving your natural teeth
- Saving you time, money, and discomfort down the line
- Preventing teeth from becoming infected or shifting out of place
- Alleviating any pain or discomfort
- Preventing reinfection
- Preserving and enhancing your oral health
- Restoring the form and function of the affected teeth
Reasons You May Need Root Canal Therapy
The first step in saving your smile is to recognize when your tooth needs help. Be on the lookout for the following signs that you may need a root canal:
- Severe toothache
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Tooth discoloration
- Swelling and tenderness in your gums
- Persistent or recurring pimples on the gums
- Dental trauma/decay such as holes, cracks, and chips in your teeth
- Crowding
- Damage to your gums or the bone surrounding the tooth
What To Expect From Root Canal Therapy
Initial Consultation
During your initial consultation with Dr. Aluning, she’ll determine if root canal therapy is the right treatment option for you by thoroughly examining your mouth. Your dentist will also review your medical history, tell you about all of your treatment options, and ask you about your concerns.
If you want to undergo your treatment but have dental anxiety, your dentist can offer sedation to use in combination with your anesthetic to keep you calm and relaxed. If Dr. Aluning determines that root canal therapy is right for you, we’ll schedule your next appointment.
Preparation
To prepare you for your root canal, we’ll thoroughly clean your mouth. Then, we’ll apply a local anesthetic to the soft tissues around the affected teeth, which will help numb you.
Your dentist will then open small holes in your teeth to expose the dental pulp, the collection of living tissues and nerves inside the root canals of your teeth. The root canals of the teeth are where you find the roots of the tooth.
Root Canal Therapy
Once the dental pulp is exposed, Dr. Aluning will remove all of the dental pulp as well as any damaged and decayed tooth material. Afterward, Dr. Aluning will sterilize the inside of the tooth to make sure it’s completely clean and free of bacteria. Then, she’ll reinforce the tooth with a dental filling.
Designing & Installing Your Dental Crown
Dr. Aluning will take digital images and impressions of your newly repaired tooth using the iTero Intraoral Camera and use them to design your dental crown. You’ll be able to receive your crown the same day thanks to fastmill.io™ In-Office Mill. From there, Dr. Aluning will shape your tooth into a base for the crown and affix your crown to it, completing the process.