Root Canal
Root canals have a reputation for being very painful, but by the time you reach our office, the worst is over.
Inside your tooth, there is pulp, and when it becomes inflamed or infected, you need endodontic treatment, or a root canal, to remove the damaged pulp and reinforce your tooth.
This can happen for a number of reasons. A chipped or cracked tooth makes it easy for bacteria to make a home. Other times, numerous dental procedures can cause a tooth to weaken and become more susceptible. Even a poor-placed crown can affect your teeth and require the support of a root canal.
A root canal is a quick, simple in-office procedure with anesthesia for your comfort and speedy recovery time.
At Bacsa Family Dental and Implant Center, we possess specialized training for root canals. Our practice features cutting-edge technology that is specifically equipped with digital imaging, ultrasonic tools, and special oral microscopes to pinpoint, identify and eliminate your tooth decay.
Frequently Asked Questions about Root Canals
Do all root canals have symptoms?
When you need a root canal, you may experience several symptoms:
- Pain or discomfort when chewing and biting down
- Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold
- A persistent, dull ache in your tooth
- Pain that occurs mostly at night
It is also possible to need a root canal when there is no pain. That’s what makes your dental hygiene exams such an integral part of your preventative care because Dr. Bacsa can detect issues lurking below the surface before they become excruciating.
What happens during root canal treatment?
For your root canal treatment, Dr. Bacsa will remove the damaged pulp from the inside of your tooth before meticulously cleaning and then sterilizing the entire area.
Once the interior of your tooth has been disinfected, we fill your tooth with gutta-percha, a synthetic material similar to rubber that restabilizes and supports your tooth from within. We will seal the tooth, so it is protected from future decay, and a crown or filling finishes the process, restoring normal function to your tooth.
Dr. Bacsa uses a safe, gentle local anesthesia to eliminate any feeling during the procedure for a comfortable, pain-free experience!
Is a root canal better than an extraction?
It’s always better to save your natural tooth wherever and whenever possible.
Tooth extraction is often performed as a last resort, but a root canal can save your natural tooth without the need for removal.
A root canal is better than an extraction for many reasons:
- Very high success rate
- Can last a lifetime
- Requires no changes to your diet unlike dentures
- Much quicker treatment
- More affordable procedure
While a tooth extraction can be a great solution for some patients, it can also carry more risks than a root canal, such as TMJ, bite issues, movement of teeth and even treatment for the surrounding teeth.
At the end of the day, nothing will mimic or replace natural tooth function like your actual teeth, so saving your teeth is always our priority whenever possible.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Bacsa for your consultation to see how Bacsa Family Dental and Implant Center can help you with your root canal!