What is a root canal?
A root canal is an outpatient procedure that removes damaged or decaying tooth pulp. Pulp is the soft, squishy center of a tooth. It contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that allow for sensations like hot and cold.
Removing damaged pulp eases inflammation and preserves your natural tooth. The team at Desert Dentist performs root canal therapy under local anesthesia, ensuring a comfortable, pain-free experience.
Why would I need a root canal?
Root canal therapy provides a safe and effective way to treat damaged or infected tooth pulp. Leading causes of pulp damage include:
- Decay due to untreated cavities
- Undergoing multiple dental procedures on a single tooth
- Cracking or chipping a tooth
- Getting hit in the mouth
Common symptoms of damaged tooth pulp include pain, swelling, and a sensation of heat in your gums. If you experience any of these side-effects, contact the team at Desert Dentist right away.
What does a root canal involve?
Root canal therapy typically involves two separate appointments spaced a week or two apart.
At your initial consultation, the team conducts an oral exam, asks about your symptoms, and takes a series of oral X-rays. After pinpointing the source of your discomfort, your dentist administers a local anesthetic and makes an access hole in the top of your affected tooth.
The team carefully removes the infected pulp and rinses the center of your tooth with an antiseptic solution. They fill your tooth with gutta-percha and take digital impressions.
Your provider sends your impressions to a dental laboratory that manufactures a permanent crown. Before you leave the office, the team covers your tooth with a temporary crown.
About a week later, you return to Desert Dentist. The team administers a local anesthetic, removes your temporary crown, and replaces it with the permanent one. You leave the office with a fully restored and functional tooth.
What is recovery like following a root canal?
Following a root canal, it’s normal to experience some mild swelling and sensitivity. To limit any discomfort, take over-the-counter pain medication or apply an ice pack to your cheek.
In the first few days following treatment, eat soft foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and soup. Continue to brush and floss like normal, but do so gently around your treated tooth.
To learn more about root canal therapy, request a consultation at Desert Dentist. Book an appointment with the online scheduling tool or call the nearest office today.
