Root Canals Specialist

What is root canal therapy?

Root canal therapy is a dental treatment used to eliminate a tooth infection and save your infected tooth from requiring extraction. 

Underneath your enamel lies hard dentin and a soft center, called the pulp, which contains nerves and tissue. When that pulp is infected or damaged, the infection can spread throughout your surrounding teeth, gums, and bone.

How do I know if I need root canal therapy?

You may need root canal therapy if an injury or infection damages the pulp of your teeth. Signs and symptoms that indicate the need for root canal therapy include:

• Severe tooth pain
• Swelling or tenderness
• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• An abscess on the gum

Sometimes, people who need a root canal don’t experience any symptoms at all. That’s why it’s important to get routine dental exams at Advanced Dentistry of Philadelphia.

How does root canal therapy work?

Once you and your dentist decide that root canal therapy is the right option to save your infected or damaged tooth, your dentist orders an X-ray to help them determine the shape of your root canal and to see if the infection has spread beyond the tooth chamber.

Next, your dentist numbs the tooth and its surrounding tissues to make your experience as comfortable as possible. They then drill an access hole into the infected tooth, so they can reach the infection as quickly as possible.

Your dentist safely removes from your tooth chamber all of your tooth pulp, along with the infection and any nerves or bacteria. Once they clean out the entire infection, your dentist seals the tooth with a rubber material called gutta-percha.

To protect your tooth from further infection or damage, the team at Advanced Dentistry of Philadelphia may recommend sealing the entire tooth with a dental crown. This adds strength and protection to your tooth. 

Once your tooth is completely sealed, it should look and function exactly like it did before you suffered a tooth infection.

A tooth infection is a serious dental concern that leads to tooth pain, gum inflammation, and more. If you think a root canal is the right treatment option for your smile, call Advanced Dentistry of Philadelphia or request an appointment online today.