Your Top Rated Local® Dentist
At Dental Arts of the Square, we are proud to service all your dental care needs in one warm and friendly place. Our Newtown Square, PA office has more than 30 years of experience with highly-trained root canal dentists in order to supply you the finest dental care available. Now let’s create and maintain your beautiful smile!
The Root Canal Procedure
Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root. All teeth have between one and four root canals.
Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the inner chamber of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves and other tissues. When the infection becomes worse, it can begin affecting the roots. A traumatic injury to a tooth can also compromise the pulp, leading to similar problems. A diseased inner tooth brings a host of problems including pain and sensitivity as the first indications of a problem. However, inside a spreading infection can cause small pockets of pus to develop, which can lead to an abscess. Infected teeth can be saved from tooth extraction so you keep your natural teeth! Some common symptoms of a root canal infection are:
- Tenderness and inflammation in the gums
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- A sharp pain and sensitivity in the tooth while biting and chewing
- Unexplained pain in the nearby lymph nodes
Root canal therapy is a remarkable treatment with a very high rate of success and involves removing the diseased tissue, halting the spread of infection and restoring the healthy portion of the tooth. In fact, root canal therapy is designed to save a problem tooth — before the procedure was developed and gained acceptance, the only alternative for treating a diseased tooth was extraction.
Root canal therapy usually entails one to three visits. During the first visit, a small hole is drilled through the top of the tooth and into the inner chamber. Diseased tissue is removed, the inner chamber cleansed and disinfected and the tiny canals reshaped. The cleansed chamber and canals are filled with an elastic material and medication designed to prevent infection. If necessary, the drilled hole is temporarily filled until a permanent seal is made with a crown. Most patients who have root canal experience little or no discomfort or pain and enjoy a restored tooth that can last almost as long as its healthy original!
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Don’t let your tooth get any worse and require far more serious procedures like a tooth extraction! A root canal is incredibly safe, successful and painless, so there’s no reason to address your issue. Contact us today for a root canal dentist and keep your natural teeth!