Root Canal Specialist

What is a root canal?

A root canal is an endodontic procedure that treats infected or inflamed tooth pulp. Tooth pulp is a soft, malleable substance that contains connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. It lets you sense temperature changes like hot and cold, but isn’t necessary for your tooth’s survival.

Removing damaged or infected pulp during an outpatient procedure preserves your enamel and prevents the need for an extraction.

Why would I need a root canal?

At ViVE Dental, the team uses root canal therapy to treat damaged or infected tooth pulp. Common causes of pulp damage include:

• Deep decay
• Multiple dental procedures on a single tooth
• Chips, cracks, or other damage
• An impact to the mouth
  

Common symptoms associated with pulp damage include swelling, sensitivity, and a sensation of heat in your gums. If you experience any of these side-effects, contact ViVE Dental right away.

What does a root canal involve?

A root canal is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 45-60 minutes.

At the beginning of your appointment, the team administers a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. Once the anesthesia kicks in, your provider makes an access hole in the top of your tooth and removes the damaged or inflamed pulp. The team cleans the center of your tooth and fills it with a soft, cushion-like material called gutta-percha.

The team then takes impressions of your tooth with the iTero® 5D intraoral scanner and applies a temporary crown. They send your impressions to a laboratory that creates a permanent crown. About a week later, you return to ViVE Dental. The team removes your temporary crown and replaces it with the permanent one.

What is recovery like following a root canal?

Following a root canal, it’s normal to experience some swelling, tooth sensitivity, and mild discomfort for a couple of days. After the anesthesia wears off, take over-the-counter pain medication to manage the inflammation.

Avoid chewing with your treated tooth until you receive a permanent crown. Continue to brush and floss like normal, but do so gently around your treated tooth. You should be able to return to work and other routine activities within a day of your procedure.

To see if you can benefit from a root canal, request a consultation at ViVE Dental. Book an appointment with the online scheduling tool or call the office today.