Root Canal Treatment Newport Beach

What Is a Root Canal and When Is It Necessary?

A root canal is a dental therapy used to treat an infection or damage deep inside your tooth. Your teeth have a soft inner tissue called pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. When this pulp becomes inflamed or infected because of decay, a cracked tooth, or repeated dental work, a root canal may be necessary to remove the infection and save the tooth from extraction.

Some common signs you may need a root canal include:

• Persistent tooth pain, especially when chewing
• Sensitivity to temperature
• Swollen or tender gums
• A darkened or discolored tooth
• An abscess or pus on the gums

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your Newport Beach dentist as soon as possible for an appointment. The quicker your issue is addressed, the better your odds of saving your tooth and avoiding further complications.

How Does The Root Canal Procedure Work?

While the idea of a root canal might sound discouraging, modern dentistry has made the procedure comfortable and efficient. Dental professionals perform more than 41,000 root canals every day, making them a safe and widely used treatment for saving an infected tooth. Here is what you can likely expect during your root canal procedure:

• Diagnosis and imaging: Your dentist will take digital images and X-rays to determine the extent of damage and confirm if a root canal is necessary.
• Local anesthetic: A numbing agent will be applied to the gums surrounding the infected tooth to ensure you feel little to no pain during the procedure.
• Removing the infected pulp: Your dentist will create an opening in the tooth to locate the inside chamber and remove any infected or damaged tissue.
• Disinfecting and shaping the canals: Once the damaged tissue has been removed, the canals inside the tooth’s roots will be disinfected and shaped to prevent future infection.
• Filling and sealing the tooth: The empty canals will be filled with an organic material called gutta-percha, and the opening will be sealed to keep bacteria out.
• Final restoration: Most often, a crown is bonded over the treated tooth to provide additional support.

The entire root canal process typically takes one or two visits, depending on the complexity of your case. Thanks to improvements in dental technology and anesthesia, many individuals report that getting a root canal feels similar to having a cavity filled.