Root Canal Therapy in Edison, NJ
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
Your teeth are designed to withstand the pressures of chewing and biting, to say nothing of the daily onslaught from bacteria that live naturally in your mouth. Despite their ingenious design, teeth can succumb and need repair. For example, when there is decay, our dentists at Rosenfeld Dental Associates offer repair with a tooth-colored filling. However, if that decay is left untreated for too long, then the bacteria that caused a cavity in the first place can migrate further into your tooth. When decay runs so deep that bacteria have entered the nerve of a tooth, a root canal is usually necessary. Let’s take a look at the reasons for a root canal and how the procedure happens.
For a Pain-free Root Canal, Edison Turns to Rosenfeld Dental Associates
Our office approaches root canal therapy by combining modern techniques with a biomedical perspective as opposed to the older, purely mechanical approach. The development of nickel titanium root canal instruments and the introduction of the modern methods of filling and sealing root canal systems now allow us to complete most root canal therapies in a single visit. Gone are the days of three or four visit treatments. More importantly, gone too is the discomfort and excessive expense associated with these procedures.
The need for a root canal is made certain with a digital X-ray of your tooth to reveal the existence of infection deep inside the tooth’s pulp chamber, where nerve, lymph and blood tissue reside. These systems allow each tooth to take in the nutrients it needs from your bloodstream and eliminate toxins and other materials. Normally, this chamber is well guarded by the tooth’s outermost shell—the enamel—and the middle layer of dentin. However, as a cavity deepens or as a crack reaches further within a tooth, this pulp chamber is exposed to bacteria. As infection sets in, tissues in the pulp chamber die, blood flow increases to fight the infection, and the pressure inside your tooth becomes extremely painful. Although a severe toothache is the primary sign of the need for a root canal, other symptoms include:
- A pimple-like growth along the gum near your tooth
- Swelling on the side of your face
- Tooth sensitivity
- Visible pus
- The feeling of an earache without the presence of infection
- Fever
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then time is of the essence. Treating an infected tooth as quickly as possible is not only recommended for the sake of your oral health, but your general health as well because the infection can spread and even be life-threatening in the most serious of cases.
During root canal therapy, our team will remove the contents of the infected pulp chamber as well as the root canals that branch off from the chamber. After disinfection, the chamber is filled with gutta-percha, a biocompatible substance that expands to fill the chamber and prevent the return of infection. This chamber and your tooth are then sealed. You may be given a prescription for an antibiotic to further treat the infection, and an over-the-counter analgesic may be taken as well to alleviate any post-procedure discomfort. Ultimately, your tooth will be covered with a dental crown for protection.