What’s A Root Canal Treatment?

womanquestionIf you require root canal treatment for an infected tooth, you may be experiencing a mix of emotions. Your reaction may include relief that there is actually a solution to address the discomfort you have been experiencing. However, you may also reflect on somewhat frightening stories you have heard about this restorative treatment, wondering if there is not some other better solution for your tooth. The truth is, root canals are completely comfortable and extremely effective. The rumors you have heard in the past are just that – rumors. Your short- and long-term comfort are extremely important to us, so you can rest easy knowing you are in excellent care. As for details about treatment, look over the following to improve your comfort level regarding what to expect:

What We’re Treating

A root canal treatment treats an infected tooth or a tooth with significantly damaged dental pulp. Your pulp is the tissue that lines the internal portion of your tooth, which includes your “root canals” or the hollow chambers within the bottommost section of your tooth. These areas protect nerves and blood vessels. Once damaged, your pulp will continue to decline in health and may become more and more infected. The problem with ignoring an infected tooth is that eventually, the infection will abscess or affect surrounding teeth and gums. Fortunately, we can stop this problem immediately by performing a root canal treatment.

So, What Is This Treatment?

A root canal treatment is a restorative procedure that saves an infected tooth. We will first numb your tooth and the area surrounding it, so you can enjoy a comfortable treatment. Then, we will create a small access point in your tooth, through which we will remove your dental pulp. Keep in mind, your tooth will be able to remain standing in its current location after we remove the pulp. Once the interior portion of your tooth is clean and free of debris, we will seal your tooth with a rubbery material called gutta percha. Then, we will fill your tooth and cover it with a beautiful dental crown.

ABOUT YOUR DALLAS, TX FAMILY DENTISTS:

Dr. Tran, Dr. Hoang, and the friendly, welcoming staff at Gentle Smiles will do everything possible to make you feel at home. Contact us today by calling 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE) to experience our compassionate, effective, and individualized care. We proudly serve patients from Dallas, TX, and all surrounding communities, including Mesquite, Balch Springs, Garland, and Seagoville.