What is Root Canal Therapy for?

Root canal therapy is performed on teeth that are badly damaged due to decay, gum disease or injury, and would otherwise have to be extracted. People opt for this procedure in order to save their natural teeth rather than having them replaced with fake teeth, as natural teeth often function much better than their artificial counterparts. Natural teeth are stronger, more efficient for biting and chewing, and they are much easier to keep clean. Thus, patients who opt for root canal therapy are opting to restore the tooth from the inside out, maintaining the existing root and fixing the decay inside.

The Root Canal Treatment Process

The root canal procedure here at Primecare Dental is usually as follows:

1. Consultation. You first come in to see one of our dental technicians so that your situation can be assessed. If your dentist agrees that a root canal would be the best plan moving forward, then you schedule your next appointment to start. This treatments usually consist of two appointments spaced two weeks apart.

2. First Appointment. In the first appointment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the root canals (hence the name of the therapy) are cleaned, enlarged and shaped. It is most likely that, at this visit, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medicines will also be placed into the root canal. A temporary filling will also protect the inside of the tooth until your next visit.

3. Second Appointment. Your dental technician will fill the root canals and cap the tooth with a crown in order to prevent fractures, splitting of the root, or any leakage of the filling.

See if root canal treatment is the right step for you.

If your teeth have been subject to decay or damage but you don’t want to replace them altogether, then this is an excellent method to retain the benefits of your natural teeth while restoring your dental health. Come and see us at Primecare Dental for your consultation today, and find out if root canal therapy is the right treatment for you.