Beautiful Dentistry
General Dentistry located in Rowland Heights, CA
Many people get concerned when they find out they need a root canal. Thankfully, our expert dental team removes all the anxiety and discomfort from a root canal procedure. We are well-trained to perform root canals and does so on a routine basis. If you have any hesitations about getting a root canal, give the office a call or schedule an appointment online.
Root Canal Q & A
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure intended to remove oral discomfort and restore your tooth. If your tooth becomes critically infected from the inside, our accomplished dentists will take out the bacteria and any dead or dying tissue. This way, they can save your tooth and help ease your pain.
What causes the root of a tooth to become infected?
From damage to the tooth or from a cavity allowed to go untreated, roots and tissue within your teeth can become infected with bacteria. If you don’t visit the dentist, the infected tissue may spread into the root or pulp of the tooth. If the infection develops any further this can lead to many other issues, so make sure you seek help.
What does an infected tooth look and feel like?
An infected tooth can cause pain very quickly, particularly if you don’t address it soon enough. You may experience these symptoms when you have an infected tooth:
- Inflamed gums
- Tooth soreness, especially when chewing
- Intense tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Bad breath
- Pus coming from around the tooth
- Painful throbbing in your jaw or mouth
- Tooth darkening in color
- A small pimple-like bump on your gum
What is the procedure for a root canal?
We can usually fix your tooth within one or two visits. You may need X-rays taken so that the full extent of the tooth damage can be evaluated before the root canal is performed.
At your appointment, we will administer local anesthetic and numb the region. Occasionally, they put a small sheet of rubber, or dental dam, around the tooth to protect it and keep it clean during the procedure. Once your tooth is anesthetized, the dentist makes a tiny cut in your tooth to reach the diseased area within the root.
After this, your dentist will clear away the unhealthy and infected pulp, then irrigate the area with water to clean it. Until you return for a permanent crown, your dentist either seals the tooth or applies a temporary filling.
If you have any signs or symptoms of a tooth infection, call or schedule a consultation online.
A brief animation depicting the root canal procedure.