The words “root canal” can make even the bravest person cringe and feel anxious; maybe you’ve heard stories about how painful they are, or you yourself had a difficult experience at some point. But the truth is that root canal treatment is designed to eliminate your discomfort and save your natural tooth. In fact, once our endodontist numbs your mouth, you’ll no longer have to worry about the throbbing tooth pain or sensitivity.
The Root Canal Procedure: What to Expect
Your tooth is made up of different layers: your enamel is the hard outer shell that protects your tooth, but under your enamel is a dentin layer and the pulp chamber. This soft pulp chamber contains blood vessels and nerves.
When bacteria enter the pulp chamber, usually due to decay or a damaged tooth, this can cause a painful infection that may require a root canal.
The root canal procedure is designed to remove the infected pulp, clean and disinfect the area, and save your tooth from extraction.
The steps of this procedure include the following:
- Numbing your mouth — First, we’ll completely numb your mouth so you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
- Accessing the infection — Next, our endodontist will make a small hole in your tooth and use special tools to remove the infected tissue.
- Cleaning and filling — The area is flushed out to eliminate any remaining bacteria, and the empty canals are filled with gutta-percha, a rubbery substance that seals the area.
- Crown placement — Our dental office has an in-house milling lab, so we can customize a CEREC® same-day dental crown and place it over your tooth to strengthen and protect it. That way, you don’t have to wait for an outside dental lab to create your crown, eliminating the need for an additional visit.
