Root canal treatment relieves pain and infection and restores a tooth to complete form and function with a porcelain crown. Unlike dental extraction and replacement, root canal therapy is tooth-sparing and in the long run, less expensive. At Drexel Hill Family Dentistry, Dr. Dinesh Tewari, Dr. Shruti Tewari and Dr. Philip Moretto recommend root canals to individuals who want healthy, beautiful smiles.
What happens during a root canal?
Also called endodontic therapy, a root canal procedure is not scary or painful. Performed with benefit of local anesthetic, this two-visit treatment removes diseased interior pulp from each of up to four canals in a tooth's supportive roots.
Your Drexel Hill dentist recommends root canal therapy after inspecting and X-raying a tooth which has:
- Fractured
- Undergone multiple filling procedures
- Appears abscessed (with symptoms of toothache pain, drainage, dental sensitivity and sores on the gums)
- Extensive decay
Then, the dentist removes the pulp. This pulp provides the tooth with nourishment and sensitivity to pressure, cold, heat and more. However, the adult tooth can function well without the pulp. Typically, teeth saved from extraction by root canal therapy last for many years.
Additionally, the dentist disinfects and seals each canal with a natural putty called gutta-percha. A temporary crown tops off the tooth and protects it as it heals over the next week to 10 days. When you return to Drexel Hill Family Dentistry, this crown is removed and a permanent one cemented in place.
More on root canals...
- Over 15 million root canals are performed annually in the US, says the American Association of Endodontists.
- These fully restored teeth are easy to clean at home and respond well to professional cleanings.
Do you need a root canal?
Find out for sure by contacting Drexel Hill Family Dentistry. Our caring, knowledgeable approach to patient care will give you confidence that you are doing the right thing by your oral health. Call the office today for an appointment: (610) 259-6619.