If your tooth is infected, American Dental Group can perform a root canal to remove the infection and save the tooth. At our West Covina dental office, we focus on both preventative care and cosmetic dentistry. This uniquely positions us to perform procedures like root canals because the process involves restoring both the health and appearance of the tooth. Our goal is to complete it in such a way as to give you a fully functioning tooth that also looks like it was never infected.
Here is how the root canal procedure works
Upon visiting our office, we will begin by examining the patient’s teeth and gums. If it appears that there is an infected tooth, then we may take X-rays to determine how deep the infection goes. This step is helpful when deciding whether or not we need to remove the root of the tooth. Next, we will numb the area with anesthesia so that the patient does not feel anything during the procedure.
While there is a rumor that root canals hurt, the truth is that the patient will feel nothing other than slight pressure. Any discomfort that a patient feels prior to us removing the infection will far surpass anything that one experiences while we are removing it.
Possible restorations
Once we numb the mouth, we will create a small hole in the tooth so that we can remove the infected area. A root canal is necessary because the dental pulp has an infection. The dental pulp is the soft center of the tooth so the only way to access it is by creating a hole first. At times, the roots can remain in place. Once complete, we will clean the area and seal the hole with a rubbery substance. While losing the root of the tooth may sound like a big deal, it is really not. The tooth only needs the root to grow. After the tooth is fully mature, the tooth can function without it.
Depending on the extent of the infection and the amount of enamel that we remove, we might need to further restore it with a filling or a dental crown. Both can be natural-colored so few people notice any changes. When considering where to go for a root canal, this is one of the primary benefits of visiting our office. Regardless of the level of restoration that you need, we can make sure that it blends in with your surrounding teeth. You can continue using your tooth like normal and never notice a drastic difference.
One thing to keep in mind is that you should visit us at the first sign of a toothache because the sooner we can remove the infection, the better.