Dental assistants at work

Root canal procedures treat disorders of the nerve of the tooth. This treatment may become necessary because of a variety of factors, some of which are:

  • physical irritation (large decay or restorations)
  • trauma (cracked tooth or occlusion)
  • gums disease.

Reasons for a Root Canal

Root canal treatment is necessary when the tooth pulp – the soft tissue inside the root canal – becomes inflamed or infected causing tooth pain. There are a variety of reasons for needing root canal therapy, such as deep decay of dental pulp, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, a faulty dental crown, tooth abscess, and chips or cracks in the damaged tooth. Additionally, an injury to a tooth can cause tooth pulp damage even if there are no visible signs of chips or cracks. If left untreated, this inflammation or infection can cause tooth pain, discomfort, and lead to a tooth abscess. Endodontic treatment not only helps protect your teeth from further damage but also helps you maintain your natural smile and allows you to enjoy eating without fear of further complication.

Treatment Overview

Root canals are frequently performed in two 1-hour appointments. Pain relief is usually accomplished in the first visit by removing the diseased tissue. At the second appointment the preparation of the root canal is completed, and the canal is sealed with a special filling material to keep bacteria from re-entering the tooth. Root canal, or endodontic treatment, may leave the tooth weaker than a healthy tooth. This could ultimately lead to tooth fracture and tooth loss. To help prevent this, a crown restoration is frequently recommended.

Root Canal Procedures – Day of

Before Treatment

As you prepare for your root canal treatment, make sure to have all of your insurance information ready when you arrive. Your dentist or endodontist will then review any X-rays taken in the past and conduct a visual inspection of the tooth and its surrounding area. To minimize discomfort, a local anesthetic will be administered to the patient via a small needle – you might feel a minor pinch but no major pain should occur. Dental technology has come a long way in this regard. Lastly, we’ll use a dental dam (a small rubber sheet) to isolate the tooth while it’s being treated, ensuring that it remains clean and dry throughout the root canal procedure.

During Treatment

Root canal treatment can take around 90 minutes, with the possibility of multiple appointments depending on how bad the infected tooth is and how many root canal procedures the patient must undergo. First, your dentist or endodontist will use a specialized drill to create an opening in the top of your affected tooth. This will expose the root and its nerve and blood vessels. Then, they’ll remove any damaged pulp or tooth decay from inside the tooth and tooths roots – hence why it’s sometimes referred to as “root canal” treatment.

The emptied space at the center of your tooth will then be carefully cleaned using small dental files and irrigated with a variety of solutions to flush out any debris or tooth decay. Your dentist or endodontist will dry both the area around the tooth and inside it at the tooth root before moving onto finalizing their work.

Next, an antimicrobial medication will be applied to your tooth’s root canal in order to treat or prevent infection. In severe cases, the tooth may need to remain open for up to a day or more in order to allow drainage. If this is necessary, you will need to return for a second appointment to complete the restorative dentistry process. The next step in this type of endodontic therapy typically involves filling the tooth canals with biocompatible material.

Finally, your dentist will add a temporary filling on top of the filled root canal in order to keep food and debris away until either a permanent filling or crown can be placed. Depending on your individual case, it may be possible for your dentist to skip this step and place a permanent filling all in one visit.

Looking to get dental crowns in San Marcos instead? Visit our dental crowns page to learn more!

Why Carothers Family Dental?

At Carothers Family Dental we understand the importance of a healthy smile. That’s why when you visit us, you can trust that your oral health is in good hands thanks to our knowledgeable team and attention to detail. Every time you come by, we strive to exceed your expectations providing top notch dental services, especially when it comes to root canal in San Marcos TX. In need of a root canal specialist, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, family Dentistry, pediatric dentistry, dental cleanings, oral surgery, sedation dentistry, tooth extraction, or even emergency dental care? Give us a call today at 512 3964288 for more information about our all of our services in San Marcos TX!