Root Canals

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a type of oral surgery that involves your 63rd Street Dental provider removing the soft center of your tooth, known as the pulp. Tooth pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue, but it isn’t necessary for a tooth’s survival. By performing a root canal, your dentist can save your permanent tooth and prevent the need for an extraction. Root canals also help stop the spread of infection. 

Why would I need a root canal?

The team at 63rd Street Dental performs root canals to treat tooth pulp that’s injured, inflamed, or infected. Some common causes of damaged tooth pulp include:

• Deep decay
• Untreated cavities
• Chipped teeth
• Cracked teeth

You might also suffer damage to your tooth pulp if you’re hit in the mouth while playing sports. The most common symptoms associated with damaged tooth pulp include swelling or a sensation of heat in your gums. 

What happens during a root canal treatment?

The team at 63rd Street Dental performs root canals in office as an outpatient procedure. Before root canal treatment, your dentist administers a local anesthetic numbing your tooth roots and gums. After the anesthesia sets in, your dentist carefully drills an access hole in the top of your affected tooth and removes the infected pulp. Next, your dentist cleans out the pulp chamber using an antiseptic solution.

After cleaning out the center of your tooth, your dentist fills it with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Finally, your dentist places a temporary crown on your tooth while it heals. 

A week or two later, you return to 63rd Street Dental. At your second appointment, your dentist removes your temporary crown and bonds a permanent crown to your affected tooth. 

What is the recovery like after a root canal?

Following your root canal, it’s perfectly normal to experience some pain, swelling, and general discomfort. This is particularly true after your anesthesia wears off. To ease your symptoms, apply an ice pack to your cheek or take an over-the-counter painkiller. If your pain persists or gets worse, reach out to the team at 63rd Street Dental. 

In the days after your root canal, avoid chewing with the damaged tooth. You should also make sure to attend all of your follow up appointments to ensure the infection is completely gone. 

If you’re suffering from a toothache and you suspect you might need a root canal, make an appointment at 63rd Street Dental today by calling the office or using the online booking tool.