If you’ve ever suffered from a severe toothache, you know the pain can be unbearable to the point you can’t focus on anything else.

When that pain doesn’t go away, it could mean your tooth is infected and in need of something called root canal treatment.

But what exactly does that mean, and why is it so important?

What Exactly Is a Root Canal (& Why Do You Need One?)

Root canal treatment is a special procedure dentists use to fix a tooth that has been damaged or infected deep inside. The inside of your tooth is filled with soft tissue, nerves, and blood vessels called the pulp.

If this pulp becomes infected, it can cause a lot of pain. The dentist removes the infected pulp, cleans out the tooth, and seals it back up. It’s kind of like fixing a broken pipe inside your tooth.

How to Tell If You Might Need a Root Canal

If you’re dealing with a toothache or other dental issues, it’s important to recognize the signs that might mean you need a root canal. Here are some common symptoms to watch out for:

  • Severe toothache: Sharp or throbbing pain when chewing or applying pressure
  • Sensitivity to heat or cold: Lingering discomfort even after the source is gone
  • Tooth discoloration: A tooth turning gray or dark
  • Swollen gums: Tenderness or puffiness around the affected area
  • Pimple on the gums: A small bump or abscess near the tooth

These symptoms can vary in how severe they are, but they all suggest that the pulp inside your tooth may be inflamed or infected. If you notice any of these signs, early treatment is key to preventing the infection from spreading and saving your tooth.

What To Expect: 5 Phases of Root Canal Treatment

 

Root canal treatment is a streamlined process designed to save your tooth and eliminate pain with minimal discomfort. Here’s what to expect during the treatment:

1. Diagnosis and Planning: Every treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your dental health. Using advanced diagnostic tools, your dentist will identify the need for a root canal and plan the best course of action tailored to your specific condition.

2. Preparation: Before the procedure starts, you will be prepared to ensure comfort throughout the treatment. This includes administering local anesthesia to numb the area and possibly anti-anxiety medication to help you feel relaxed and pain-free.

3. Treatment: The core of the root canal involves carefully treating the inside of the tooth. The dentist removes the damaged tissue, cleans the inner chambers, and disinfects the area to eliminate any infection. The focus is on preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.

4. Filling and Sealing: After cleaning, the tooth is filled with a biocompatible material to seal it off from future infections. This phase stabilizes the tooth and prepares it for the final restoration.

5. Restoration: The final phase involves restoring the tooth with a crown or filling. You may be referred back to your general dentist for this simpler procedure.

Throughout each phase, your dentist will use the latest technology to enhance the treatment, from detailed imaging for accurate diagnosis to advanced materials for filling and sealing.

Step-by-Step on How A Root Canal Treatment Works

Root canal treatment is a carefully planned process designed to remove infection and save your tooth. Here’s a more detailed look at each step of the procedure:

1. Applying Anesthesia

The first step in a root canal treatment is to ensure that you are completely comfortable during the procedure. Your dentist will apply anesthesia to numb the pain in the affected tooth and the surrounding area. This will help you relax and avoid any discomfort. Once the area is numb, a small rubber dam is placed around the tooth to keep it dry. This ensures that the tooth remains free from saliva and bacteria during the treatment.

2. Creating a Hole in the Tooth to Access the Nerve Root

Once the area is numbed and prepared, the dentist drills a small hole into the infected tooth to reach the nerve and pulp inside. These are the parts of the tooth that contain blood vessels and nerves. Using very small, specialized dental tools, the dentist carefully removes the infected tissues, nerves, and blood vessels that are causing the infection.

3. Shaping and Filling the Canals Beneath the Tooth

After the infected tissue is removed, the next step is to clean and shape the empty spaces left behind. The dentist will thoroughly clean the tooth’s inner canals and disinfect them to ensure no infection remains. Once cleaned, the dentist will fill the empty canals with a rubbery, flexible material called gutta-percha. This material seals the tooth and prevents any future infections from forming.

4. Sealing the Tooth

After the canals are filled, the tooth will be sealed temporarily with a dental filling. This helps prevent bacteria from entering the tooth and causing further damage or infection. The temporary filling also protects the tooth from food, liquids, and bacteria while your tooth heals. You will need to return for a follow-up appointment to check that the filling is working effectively and to ensure there are no issues.

5. Crowning the Tooth

Once the tooth is healed and the temporary filling has served its purpose, the final step is to protect the tooth with a crown. A crown is a custom-made cap that fits over the treated tooth, restoring its shape, size, and function. The process of making the crown usually takes about three weeks. Once ready, the dentist will remove the temporary filling and place the permanent crown over the tooth. This will protect the tooth from further damage and allow you to use it normally for eating and chewing.

What Happens If You Ignore a Tooth Infection?

If a tooth infection is left untreated, the consequences can be serious. Not only will the pain become unbearable, but the infection can spread to other parts of your mouth and even to other areas of your body. In severe cases, the infection can become life-threatening, especially if the bacteria enter your bloodstream.

Delaying treatment can cause further damage to your tooth, and in some cases, you may even lose the tooth entirely. That’s why early intervention with root canal treatment is so important to preserving your tooth and overall oral

 

Does a Root Canal Hurt? (Spoiler: It Doesn’t Have To!)

Most people think a root canal will hurt a lot, but it’s actually not worse than getting a regular filling. Thanks to numbing medicine, you’ll be comfortable during the procedure. Afterward, you might feel a little sore, but it goes away quickly.

Benefits of Root Canal Treatment Done Early

  • Saves Your Smile: Root canal treatment can help preserve your natural tooth, which not only keeps your smile intact but also prevents the need for more complex and expensive dental procedures down the road.
  • Stops the Pain: Once the infected pulp is removed, the pain stops, and your tooth begins to heal.
  • Keeps Your Smile Healthy: A healthy tooth is a happy smile! Treating your tooth early can prevent bigger problems later on.

Ready to Feel Better? Book a Pain-Free Consultation Today

Don’t wait until the pain gets worse!

Book your consultation with Clear Advantage Dental & Orthodontic Clinic in Oakridge Vancouver today.

Our team specializes in pain-free root canal treatments that restore your smile and your peace of mind. Call now to get started!