Root Canal

Root Canal

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Why Get a Root Canal?

Inside your tooth is a soft area known as the pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Though the pulp normally provides a tooth with nutrients, it can also become infected. When this occurs, the pulp dies. A root canal removes the dead pulp in order to:

Eliminate disease or decay - The infection from a diseased or dead pulp can cause pain, health problems, and tooth loss.

Prevent future infections - If not completely removed, the infection can remain and spread.

Save a tooth - In the past, if you had a tooth with a diseased pulp, it was usually extracted. Now, root canals can help you keep that tooth. Even teeth with significant damage from disease or an accident can be saved with root canals, and can last for the rest of your life

The Root Canal Treatment

Root canals, also called endodontic therapy, are fairly common procedures, and the experience is similar to having a filling.

During a root canal, your dentist first removes all of a tooth's diseased pulp, and then cleans the area. This is typically the most time-consuming part of the procedure, as your dentist needs to clean out every bit of material to make sure that no trace of infection or bacteria remains.

The space where the pulp used to be is filled with a non-reactive and biocompatible material called gutta-percha, and topped with a permanent buildup material and dental crown.

Signs You May Need a Root Canal

An infection usually provides some warning signs. If the pulp of your tooth has become diseased, you may:

• Suffer pain, especially when chewing and biting down.
• Feel prolonged or increased sensitivity to hot or cold.
• See a discoloration or a large cavity.
• Experience a foul taste in your mouth, even after brushing.
• Notice swelling and an abscess with pus that drains into your mouth.

Sometimes, there are no noticeable symptoms, but your dentist may discover the infection during a routine visit.

If You Think You May Need a Root Canal

Call us at our office. Remember, the earlier we can catch a problem, the more likely we can save your tooth. It's also more likely that you'll require less extensive treatment.

Many people are afraid that root canals are very long and painful procedures. But here at Times Square Family Dental, we use some of the most advanced and up to date instruments and materials for root canals. This significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to do a root canal. And almost all of our patients feel little to absolutely no pain during treatment.