Root Canal Treatment Bells Corners, Ottawa
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If your tooth is broken, abscessed, or severely decayed, root canal therapy can help you avoid an emergency dental extraction. Today’s root canal treatments use modern medications and technology to ensure the best experience for our patients.
How to Know if You Need a Root Canal
Any time damage occurs to the nerve inside of a tooth, a root canal is advised. These scenarios can range from traumatic injuries to deep, aggressive tooth decay.
To determine if you need endodontic treatment, we will take an X-ray of the tooth to evaluate the root and nerve tissue. Temperature or pressure testing may also be conducted during your exam.
Teeth with internal damage tend to develop heat sensitivity or pain when pressure is applied. You might even notice the development of an abscess on the gums alongside your tooth.
If you happen to have a cavity that isn’t treated quickly, the bacterial infection from the decay can spread into adjacent tooth structures. What might have been repairable with a small filling can eventually progress into a large area of damage that also involves the nerve of the tooth (requiring a root canal).
What’s Involved During Endodontic Therapy?
You can think of root canal treatment similar to getting a dental filling The main difference is that during endodontic therapy, we clean inside your tooth then seal off the entire internal system of the tooth (rather than only fill the area above the gum line.)
After a root canal, you will also often need a protective crown placed over the tooth. Not protecting and sealing the tooth with a crown may lead to fracture and/or reinfection. A crown will reinforce the remaining tooth structure, allowing you to bite and chew normally for the duration of the tooth’s lifespan.
What You Can Expect
During your root canal appointment, we will use special medication to numb the tooth that’s being treated. Nitrous oxide sedation is also available to help you relax. If you have a severe infection around the tooth, we may need to prescribe an antibiotic leading up to your appointment to help reduce the swelling and make you more comfortable.
Are there alternatives to root canal treatment? Typically, not. Endodontic therapy is often the last viable solution for preserving natural teeth. Without one, the infected tooth will eventually need to be removed and replaced with something else.
Benefits of Endodontic Therapy
Today’s gentler root canal techniques allow you to comfortably preserve your natural teeth without increasing your risk of tooth loss. With little to no residual discomfort after your procedure, you’ll ensure the best outcome for your smile in the years ahead. Endodontic treatment allows you to minimize future dental procedures while safeguarding the alignment and function of your overall smile.
Root Canal Therapy
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