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What Are Root Canals?
Root canals are a common dental surgery that removes infected, damaged or exposed pulp from a tooth suffering from advanced dental decay. Also referred to as endodontic treatments, root canals are a type of surgery that can rid you of the severe pain and discomfort that issues revolving around the soft pulp tissue inside of your tooth may cause.
When Do You Need to Have a Root Canal Done?
In most cases, damaged or diseased pulp can’t repair by itself. If you want your tooth to be saved, it is necessary for your dentist to perform a dental root canal. How do you know if you need to have endodontic treatment? The following symptoms are common indicators that you may need to pursue this type of procedure.
- Pain in your tooth that is moderate or severe
- Extreme tooth sensitivity to heat, cold or touch
- Tooth pain that awakens you
- Pain whenever you bite down
- Large cavities or tooth discoloration
- Swelling of gum tissue around the sore tooth
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. Our practice has plenty of experience in dealing with endodontic treatment, so call us today!
Who Can Perform Dental Root Canal Treatment?
Root canals can be completed by general dentists or by endodontists. Endodontists are specialists and are typically used in complicated cases involving many teeth or in cases involving the re-treatment of teeth. No matter what kind of root canal dentist you choose to utilize for your treatment, you can rest assured that you will receive high-quality care from our practice.
What Will Happen During My Root Canal?
Your root canal procedure will most likely take your dentist one to two hours to complete. A simple endodontic procedure will have the following take place.
- Your tooth will be numbed so there isn’t any discomfort.
- Your tooth will be surrounded by a small shield to isolate the area being worked on and to keep the area clean.
- The crown of your tooth will be opened by your dentist so that he or she can get into the pulp chamber.
- The pulp will be taken out and the root canals will be cleaned and shaped by your dentist.
- Your dentist will disinfect your root canals with a fluid. This fluid will also clear out any remaining debris.
- A rubbery material called gutta-percha is utilized to fill in the now-empty canals.
- A root canal crown will be utilized to cap off your tooth in order to keep it from fracturing.
The exact steps of your procedure may vary. If you are having multiple root canals done your procedure may take longer than two hours.
How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?
Our practice will always provide you with a detailed estimate of the costs that you may incur during your treatment. Just like with any other dental procedure, the exact amount you will owe will depend on a number of factors. The severity of damage done to the tooth, as well as the amount of prep work that the dentist will have to undertake in order to get the tooth ready for the procedure, will impact the cost of your bill. Another factor that significantly impacts costs is how many roots are present in the tooth that is being worked on. Front teeth only have one, which means that they are often less expensive to work on than a tooth like a molar, which has four roots. If your procedure is completed by a general dentist, it will most likely be less expensive than if it is done by an endodontist. Another thing to consider is whether or not your dental insurance provider provides you with coverage for root canals.
What Are the Different Kinds of Root Canals?
The standard form of root canal that most people are familiar with is typically performed on teeth like molars, however, this same procedure can be used on any type of tooth, including a front tooth. Other types of root canals include pediatric pulpotomies and apicoectomies. Pediatric pulpotomies are typically utilized when children need root canals. This procedure involves the dentist clearing out all of the infected or damaged pulp while still leaving the nerves intact. Apicoectomies are utilized when a dentist has to go in and remove the tip of a root. This is usually done when previous root canals have failed.
Are Root Canals Painful?
While the thought of getting any kind of dental surgery can be scary, there is nothing to fear when you come to our practice. We will use local anesthetic throughout your procedure. You won’t be able to feel a thing. Contact our practice to make your appointment for a root canal in West Chester.