Root Canals Specialist

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a common procedure for when an infection has spread into the root of your tooth. During a root canal, your dentist at Lakeside Family Dentistry opens your tooth and removes the infected tissue and the nerve, then seals the tooth. A filling or crown is then fitted over the tooth, so it continues to function normally, without causing you any more pain.

How do I know if my tooth is infected?

Most of the time, infected teeth are the result of an untreated cavity. Infection may also occur if your tooth becomes cracked or broken, exposing the inner tissue to harmful bacteria. 

If you don’t see a dentist for proper care for a cavity, the bacteria creates a larger hole in your tooth, eventually reaching the soft inner pulp, and spreading into the root. Infection in the root of your tooth can eventually spread further, causing damage to your surrounding teeth, gums, or jawbone.

An infected tooth can cause several symptoms, which include:

• Painful biting or chewing
• Tender, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
• Darkened tooth color

A bump on your gums or the roof of your mouth, known as an abscess, can also indicate the presence of an infection.

What happens during root canals?

Before your root canal begins, your Lakeside Family Dentistry provider gives you a local anesthetic and may also use laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, to make sure you’re relaxed and pain-free during your root canal.

Your dentist may wrap your tooth with a rubber film called a dental dam to keep your tooth safe during the procedure. They gently open your tooth with a drill, and then they use a special file to remove the infected tissue. 

Next, your dentist rinses and sterilizes the inside of your tooth. When your tooth is completely clean, they fill it in with a composite resin. When this is complete, your dentist takes an impression of your tooth, which the lab uses to make your permanent crown if needed.

You wear a temporary crown for a few weeks; when your permanent crown is ready, you return to have it installed over your tooth. Your dentist checks the fit of your crown to make sure you can bite and chew properly, then seals it in place with a dental adhesive.

If you’re in pain and you suspect you have an infected tooth, call Lakeside Family Dentistry today, or make an appointment online for a pain-free root canal.