Root Canals
A "root canal" or, endodontic therapy, is a procedure available to save a tooth that is infected and would otherwise require extraction. There are many reasons that teeth can become infected including cavities, previous large fillings, crowns, cracks, fractures, trauma, and extreme wear.
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.
Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what they do not realized is that extracting (pulling) a tooth could ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth as well as loss of bone in the area where the tooth was removed.
While root canal therapy has a high degree of success, it is not 100% guaranteed. It is very important to have a permanent restoration (usually a crown) placed within 30 days of the root canal. If a permanent restoration is not placed, the tooth can further decay to the point where the root canal must be re-done or, worse, the tooth must be removed.
Reasons For Root Canal Therapy
- Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)
- Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
- Injury or trauma to the tooth
- Extreme wear
What Does Root Canal Therapy Involve?
A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by your regular dentist or endodontist (a root canal specialist). While the tooth is numb, a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) will be placed around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An access opening is made on top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening. One at a time these remove the pulp, nerve tissue, and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with special dental instruments.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed.
At the next appointment, usually a week later, the roots and the inside cavity of the tooth will be filled and sealed with special dental materials. A filling will be placed to cover the opening on top of the tooth. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed. This will protect the tooth and prevent it from breaking, by restoring it to its full function.
After treatment, your tooth may still be sensitive, but this will subside as the inflammation diminishes and the tooth has healed.
You will be given care instructions after each appointment. Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your root canal treatment.
Schedule Your Root Canal Therapy Consultation
Transform your smile with a root canal therapy at Layer Dental. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a more confident, beautiful smile.
- Phone: (541) 734-0970
- Address: 1485 East McAndrews Road, Medford, OR 97504
- Email: info@layerdental.com
- Hours of Operation:
Mon - Thu: 7am - 2:30pm
Fri, Sat, Sun: Closed
We look forward to helping you achieve the smile of your dreams!