Root Canals/Endodontics

The primary goal of all dental care is to safeguard oral health and preserve your natural teeth. In some cases, when the interior of a tooth has been compromised or exposed to bacteria, a treatment called a root canal is necessary to eliminate infection and preserve the patient’s natural tooth structure.

At Eastgate Dental Excellence, we provide our patients with complete dental care, including endodontics and root canal therapy.

What Is Endodontics?

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that addresses the care, preservation, and restoration of a tooth’s interior pulp, roots, and the tissues surrounding them. One of the most commonly used endodontic dental treatments is a restorative treatment called root canal therapy or a root canal.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a non-surgical procedure that preserves a patient’s natural tooth by cleaning out any signs of bacterial infection and removing diseased tissues inside the tooth.

When Is a Root Canal Needed?

Root canals are required to preserve a natural tooth when tooth decay creates a cavity that’s so large a bacterial infection develops in the tooth’s interior, infecting the pulp and roots.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

During a root canal, our dentists first use a local anesthetic to numb the tooth we will be working on and the surrounding tissues. This ensures you experience no pain or discomfort during the root canal treatment.

We then drill the tooth and remove the tooth’s interior pulp. Once the pulp has been removed, we sterilize the tooth’s inside to neutralize any bacteria and prevent future infection. After cleaning and drying the tooth’s interior, we fill the tooth and its root system with special dental cement.

Finally, we cap the tooth’s remaining structure with a dental crown to provide support and protection and preserve the natural tooth, its appearance, and its function.

Are Root Canals Painful?

Root canals have a reputation for being painful and difficult, despite the fact that they are actually quite simple procedures. Plus, modern dentistry techniques that use high-quality numbing agents and effective pain relievers have made them relatively painless.

To relieve pain after your anesthetics have worn off, we recommend using over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, as needed. You can also apply a cold compress to mitigate swelling.

If you have an upcoming root canal and are concerned about experiencing stress or anxiety during your appointment, we welcome you to contact us about sedation dentistry. We have various treatment options that can help you relax in the dentist’s chair and enjoy a calm, comfortable, and stress-free dental visit.

Root Canal Therapy at Eastgate Dental Excellence

To learn more about root canals and endodontics or to schedule an appointment at Eastgate Dental Excellence, we welcome you to contact us today.