Root canal therapy may seem like a scary or intimidating treatment, but the truth is that a timely root canal can literally be tooth-saving. Today’s short article from our Santa Monica root canal dentists reviews some basic information about this therapy…
Why Root Canals Are Necessary
Root canal therapy clears away the inner core of a damaged or diseased tooth. Our team eliminates the dental pulp, sensitive nerves, and tooth roots, so that we can save as much dentin and enamel as possible.
The goal of root canal treatment is to:
- Clear out vulnerable or damaged tissues
- Sterilize the remaining tooth structure
- Fill the tooth
- Repair and rebuild missing enamel with a custom crown
Signs To Look Out For
The only way to know for sure that you need a root canal is to meet with your dental team. However, there are some commonly experienced symptoms that may indicate that root canal therapy is necessary. These include
- tooth pain
- jaw discomfort
- brown or gray discoloration
- periodontal pockets
- chronic bad breath (halitosis)
Overview Of Treatment Process
The first step is to assess the severity of your dental damage or infection. Digital X-rays will give us a clear visualization of what’s happening under the surface of your smile.
Once we have gathered enough information, we will drill into your tooth’s surface, and eliminate affected enamel and dentin. We then, essentially, hollow-out your tooth structure, by getting rid of any dental pulp, tooth roots, and nerves. This is a crucial step—if diseased tissue is left behind, your smile is at risk of developing subsequent problems.
The final step in the process is to rebuild and repair the relevant tooth. Using composite resin and porcelain restorations, our team will replace missing tooth structure.
If you think that you are dealing with substantial dental damage, our Santa Monica root canal dentists are here to help. The best way to get started is to call our office, or use the Contact Us page on our site to ask a question!