Root Canal Therapy

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Root canal therapy can save a tooth that has become severely infected or decayed. When diagnosis indicates the need for a root canal treatment, our first priority is our patients’ peace of mind. Offering an extensive menu of pain-management options, our first order of business is to ensure that our patients are at-ease about the procedure. Dr. Kim makes root canal therapy as relaxing as possible.

 -Spontaneous pain even when you’re not eating or drinking
-Pain that wakes you up in the middle of the night
-Toothache that worsens when pressure is applied or when eating
-Darkening or discoloration of a tooth
-Recurring swelling of the gums
-Tenderness in the gums
-Extreme sensitivity to cold or heat

Ignoring these signs or symptoms can be detrimental to your oral health, and may lead to further complications including increased pain or an abscessed tooth. If you are unsure about any of the symptoms you’re experiencing, schedule a consultation with Sanford Smiles Family Dentistry for a consultation and evaluation.

For most patients, a root canal can be performed in a single visit. Our pre-treatment preparation ensures that both the tooth and the affected area are fully anesthetized for the entire procedure. In most cases, once the tooth is repaired we recommend protecting it with a crown to prevent fracture.

After full anesthesia is achieved, treatment will be completed in either one or two appointments based on the health of the pulpal tissue. If your tooth was severely infected, we may opt to place a medication in your canals for one or two weeks before completing the root canal to effectively decontaminate the area. A temporary filling will be used in between treatments to keep the area sterile. The height of the tooth is  reduced so that this new tooth is not an active player in the bite.

After treatment, you may experience similar pain than before treatment for about two days. You should avoid chewing on that side of your mouth for a couple of days or until the tenderness has subsided. Dr. Kim will prescribe a final restoration for the tooth. It’s important to remember that teeth with root canals have a higher percentage of fracture as well.