Root Canal Therapy
Best Candidates
Good candidates for a root canal are people experiencing pain from an infection. If tended to in a timely manner, the tooth should be viable enough to receive the therapy. However, some people wait too long (or avoid going to the dentist), in which case the tooth may need to be extracted altogether. This is a complicated process and depends on a lot of variables, so patients are always advised to have realistic expectations about the process.
Some warning signs of a potential root canal issue are tooth pain, jaw pain, gum swelling around the tooth in question, gum discoloration, and discoloration of the tooth itself. If the infected pulp is not removed, it will just get increasingly painful, and the infection will start to spread to other parts of your mouth.
What To Expect
Before starting the procedure, you will discuss your sedation and/or anesthetic options with Dr. Solomon. We want you to feel at ease and relaxed as we provide your endodontic care. Many patients request nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) or oral-conscious sedation to get them through a root canal. Dr. Solomon is very understanding about dental anxieties and will help you make the appropriate decision on how to proceed.
During an endodontic procedure, Dr. Solomon will carefully assess the inner chamber of your tooth and start to remove the infected pulp. From there, the inside of the empty chamber will be thoroughly sterilized to be certain all infection has been removed. After this has been confirmed, it’s time to fill the empty and sterilized chamber with an inert substance to reinforce the structure of the tooth and to make it suitable for a crown. You may be going home with a temporary crown or bridge if your new restoration has to be sent to a laboratory to be made. Not to worry, your temporary restoration (if a same-day crown is not appropriate) will be replaced by a smooth, porcelain crown fitted for your bite.
Plan Your Procedure
If you’re unhappy with the appearance or function of your teeth for any reason, we encourage you to contact us today and schedule a consultation.