Root Canal Treatment
Root Canal Dentist in Bay Village, Ohio
We’ve all had them: the throbbing toothache that starts in your jaw and lets you know it isn’t going away. This can be a sign that you need a root canal, a routine dental procedure that makes some people nervous enough to delay a much-needed treatment. At The Healthy Smile, a local dentist in Bay Village, Ohio, we have a lot of experience with root canals and the patients who are nervous about getting one for the first time.
When Is a Root Canal Needed?
All of your adult teeth have small roots that reach through your gums and into the bone beneath. The area where the tooth connects with bone is very confined space, so any infection that starts there has no place to go as it grows. The pressure this causes on the surrounding tissue can be extremely painful. There may be no obvious reason for an infection like this, or the germs could have gotten into the root of the tooth through damaged or decayed enamel on the exposed surface. When a potentially serious infection attacks deep inside a tooth, you may have no choice but a root canal.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a totally routine procedure we use to treat broken and badly decayed teeth that are still healthy enough to avoid extraction. The process begins with pain relief, usually Novocain and a topical cream to get as close to a painless root canal as possible. Once the area is numb, your dentist drills in through the top of the tooth and extracts the infected or decayed pulp inside. A special file goes into the root of the tooth, opening space and creating the “canal.”
Once a path is open to the infected site, most people feel immediate relief from the release of pressure. Sometimes we have to leave the tooth open for a few days to let the infection subside, while for others we can go straight to the next step.
Filling the Tooth
A root canal is finished when the now-hollow tooth is filled with dental putty and a post is put inside to set in place. This is the anchor we attach your new crown to. With proper care, your new tooth should stay in great shape for up to 30 years without further trouble.
Let's be in Touch
If you have a sore tooth, fever, swollen jaw or any other sign of a bad tooth infection, you may need a root canal to fix it. Call the Bay Village dentists at The Healthy Smile for an appointment to get your toothache taken care of and to fix your sore tooth for good.
