Root canal therapy is a dental procedure performed to treat infected tooth pulp and prevent extraction. It addresses issues like decay, chipped teeth, fractures, and dental trauma. Signs that indicate the need for root canal therapy include pain, sensitivity, swelling, discoloration, and pressure sensitivity. The process involves numbing the area, accessing and cleaning the roots, shaping the canal, filling it, and protecting the tooth with a crown. Urgent Dental of Denver provides emergency root canal services for immediate relief from toothache.
Contents
- What Is Root Canal Therapy?
- Common Concerns that Root Canal Therapy Can Resolve
- Extensive Decay
- Chipped or Fractured Teeth
- Dental Trauma
- Multiple Procedures on a Single Tooth
- Signs You Might Be in Need of Root Canal Therapy
- An Overview of the Root Canal Therapy Process from Start to Finish
- Prepping the Tooth
- Accessing and Cleaning the Roots
- Shaping the Canal
- Filling the Canals
- Protecting the Tooth
- When You Need an Emergency Root Canal in Denver, CO, Call Urgent Dental
At the center of each tooth is a collection of blood vessels and nerves called the dental pulp. This tissue can become infected because of dental trauma, severe decay, chips, cracks, and other oral health problems.
Symptoms of an infected tooth include swelling, temperature sensitivity, or pain in the tooth and gums. Once the infection has reached this point, you need root canal therapy.
Commonly referred to as a root canal, dentists perform this procedure over 15 million times each year to preserve their patients’ natural teeth. When you have tooth pain, it’s crucial to act quickly to receive an emergency root canal to prevent the need for an extraction and a costly tooth replacement.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is a dental procedure that treats the pulp of your tooth after bacteria has invaded the tissue and caused an infection. This procedure saves your tooth to prevent an extraction.
The pulp inside your tooth is removed during a root canal. The remaining structure of your tooth will become weaker and more susceptible to breaking. It must be protected with a crown.
Common Concerns that Root Canal Therapy Can Resolve
Pain indicates there’s something wrong with your tooth, but it doesn’t always mean you’ll need emergency dental care. When it does, emergency root canal therapy can address the following dental health concerns:
Extensive Decay
Teeth have three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp. Tooth decay starts in the enamel layer, and when left untreated, it progresses through each layer. A filling can restore the tooth if the decay has only reached the enamel or dentin. Once it extends to the nerve tissue in the pulp, root canal therapy is required.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
Biting down on something hard, like a pen cap, can cause your tooth to chip, break, or fracture. Your pulp becomes exposed, making it vulnerable to bacteria and infection. If you don’t schedule an appointment with your dentist soon, this can become a dental emergency.
When the diseased tissue remains in your mouth, it can cause a serious infection that requires the tooth to be extracted.
Dental Trauma
Regardless of how an injury or accident occurs, trauma to your mouth can affect the soft tissues of the tooth or teeth. The impact of a dental injury frequently results in root canal treatment.
Multiple Procedures on a Single Tooth
Some teeth need multiple procedures, like restoring missing tooth structures or repairing a fracture. Depending on the extent of the damage, your tooth may need root canal therapy during another dental procedure.
Signs You Might Be in Need of Root Canal Therapy
Pain is a clear sign that something is wrong with your tooth. But several other signs indicate you need emergency dental care:
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Significantly deep decay
- Hot and cold sensitivity
- Swollen gums
- Severe discoloration of the tooth
- Pressure sensitivity that lasts for weeks or months
When you have trouble completing routine activities, like drinking or eating, contact our emergency dentist in Denver, CO, for same-day emergency dental services.
An Overview of the Root Canal Therapy Process from Start to Finish
After scheduling your emergency dental care appointment, Dr. Boyd will examine your tooth and determine whether it has become inflamed because of an infection. Sometimes, antibiotics alone cannot treat the infection, so a root canal may be recommended to ease the pain and save the tooth.
Prepping the Tooth
The dentist will use an injection to numb the area around the gums and the tooth’s root. Once it is numb, a dental dam is placed in your mouth to isolate the tooth being treated. The remaining teeth are covered by the dental dam material.
Accessing and Cleaning the Roots
Using a special tool, the dentist drills through the tooth to access nerve tissue. Dental instruments are used to clean out the tissue from the root canals and pulp chamber.
An antibacterial and antiseptic solution is placed into the tooth to clean and disinfect the canals, eliminating the bacteria and treating the infection.
Shaping the Canal
After removing the tissue, the canals must be shaped using tiny instruments. This step prepares the canal to receive the filling material. Once they are shaped, the canals must be cleaned again.
Filling the Canals
A rubberlike material called gutta-percha is placed inside the canals and heated. The dentist condenses it to ensure it fits tightly against the walls. An adhesive cement is added to seal the canal, secure it, and keep bacteria out.
Protecting the Tooth
A filling material is placed over the access hole to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth. The emergency dentist will place a same-day crown over the tooth to protect it from breaking.
When You Need an Emergency Root Canal in Denver, CO, Call Urgent Dental
A toothache makes everyday tasks unbearable. Call Dr. Boyd at Urgent Dental of Denver to find relief.
