Are you suffering from a severe toothache? Is there any swelling or tenderness in the gums around the tooth in question? Has your tooth lost its color? You may be in need of a root canal therapy. Visit your dentist at the earliest.

When your tooth is badly decayed or infected, a root canal therapy or treatment becomes necessary in order to save that tooth. If you let such a tooth left untreated, it will cause great discomfort. It may also necessitate the need to extract such a tooth altogether! For that reason, it is vital to see your dentist at the earliest, who can save your natural tooth with a root canal therapy.

A root canal treatment, in a nutshell, involves removing the infected pulp, cleaning the inside of a tooth, and sealing it with a dental filling. Often, a dental crown is also placed in order to protect the filling and tooth as well as to restore the normal function of the tooth. The root canal procedure is painful, but not as much as the pain and discomfort you will experience with the untreated, infected tooth.

Symptoms that indicate the need of a root canal therapy

There are several signs, which indicate that you may need a root canal treatment. Here they are:

• Unbearable pain in the tooth, especially when chewing or applying some pressure
• Tooth sensitivity; experiencing sharp pain in the tooth when consuming hot or cold drinks or foods
• Swelling and soreness around the gums of a tooth that may be decayed or infected
• Discoloration (often darkening) of a tooth
• A tenacious or recurring acne on the gums

If you experience any or some of the above symptoms, then might probably be a candidate for a root canal therapy. Note that sometimes no indicators are present at all! Therefore, it is vital to see your dentist regularly, at least twice a year; they can detect any likely problems and treat them accordingly.

What is involved in the root canal procedure

If you are likely to have a root canal, expect at least a couple of visits to the dental clinic. A qualified dentist or endodontist is the one who can carry out a root canal treatment. Therefore, be sure to visit a reputable dental clinic that has experienced and qualified dentists or endodontists.

Now, before the procedure, your dentist or endodontist will first carefully examine the tooth in question. They will take an X-ray of the tooth in order to see the condition of the root canals and conclude whether there are any signs of infection. If the condition of the canals is not good and infection is present, then your dentist or endodontist will proceed with the root canal treatment. Before carrying out the treatment, local anesthesia will be used to numb the area around your tooth and keep you more relaxed.

After administering local anesthesia, your dentist will place a sheet of rubber (a rubber dam) around your tooth. This rubber sheet helps keep the area around your tooth free of saliva and dry during the treatment. Next, your dentist will drill a hole in your tooth to access its inside. They will then carefully remove the infected pulp, along with the bacteria. The dentist will then scrape, scrub, and clean the inside of your tooth. Once the cleaning is done, the dentist will seal your tooth. If the infection is severe, then your dentist will put some medication in your tooth before sealing it with a temporary filling.

In your next appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary filling and fill your tooth with gutta-percha and a sealer paste. Then, to fill the access hole, your dentist will use a mercury-free filling. Finally, to complete the root canal treatment, the dentist will place a dental crown on your tooth to protect it and restore its natural function.

For the best root canal therapy, Tysons Corner residents rely on vastly experienced dentists at SmilePerfectors. Extremely friendly and skilled, our dentists in Tysons Corner use the latest dental tools and equipment to make the root canal treatment as comfortable as possible.

Get in touch with one of our dentists in Tysons Corner to learn more about root canal therapy. To schedule a consultation, click here.