“My Tooth Has Been Hurting… What Should I Do?”
Root Canal Treatments, or RCTs, are popularly thought to be a grueling and painful ordeal faced by patients who have no other choice. The truth behind RCT’s is quite the opposite. In most cases, a root canal actually serves to relieve pain for patients and helps save a tooth that may have to be extracted otherwise. In general dentistry, extraction is the absolute last resort, as there is no perfect replacement for your natural teeth.
The first step of a root canal treatment is confirming that one is, in fact, necessary.
This is done during a visit to our dental office, where images are taken to determine the condition of your tooth and surrounding tissues
A pulp vitality response may also be done. During this kind of test, temperature sensitivity is checked for by subjecting the pulp to cold. If a tooth does not respond appropriately, the chances are good that it is in need of a root canal.
Root canals can require one or two appointments, each requiring up to ninety minutes each.
During these appointments, the tooth will be numbed in preparation for the treatment. The top of the tooth is then opened, and all of the pulp and infection is cleaned out of the tooth’s inner chamber.
These internal structures, including the root canal, will be filled with a substance known as gutta-percha and sealed.
The following appointment will be made sometime after a week to check and see if all is going well with the treatment.
Our environment at Dunwin Dental is warm and welcoming to make coming to your appointment feel like dropping in to see old friends.
We offer a range of treatment options from general dentistry to cosmetic dentistry while focusing on a positive patient experience.
You are in control of your oral care journey. Here, we empower you to make informed decisions about your dental care.
