Root canal therapy is one of the most common dental procedures in America, but it has a bit of a bad reputation in popular culture. In reality, root canals are painless and simple, and they are no more invasive than getting a filling for a cavity. There is really no reason to fear root canals, especially with our gentle and communicative approach.
A root canal is a procedure that involves removing infected pulp and bacteria from a tooth. Your teeth are made up of multiple layers, and if bacteria makes it past the outer enamel and dentin, it can make its way to the inner part of the tooth (known as the pulp) and cause serious damage.
The pulp is filled with nerves and blood vessels, and if it becomes infected it can be extremely painful, leading to things like toothaches and migraines. If an infection is not treated, your tooth will eventually fall out.
During a root canal, Our team will disinfect the damaged area and remove bacteria. After this, he'll fill the space left behind with a rubbery material called “gutta percha”, which replaces your pulp and supports your tooth. Finally, the tooth is sealed with a filling or a temporary crown, and a permanent crown is usually placed at a later appointment to protect the tooth from re-infection.
Tooth decay and impact injuries are the two most common reasons that a patient would need root canal therapy. Tooth decay can eat away at the exterior of the tooth, allowing bacteria to infect the pulp. Impact injuries can cause the outer parts of the tooth to crack, allowing bacteria inside the tooth.
Common symptoms of an infected tooth that require a root canal include:
If you think that you may have a serious tooth infection, schedule an appointment with us right away to get the care you need.
Root canal therapy is the ideal way to treat an infected tooth and this treatment has a number of benefits:
Whether you have an infected tooth in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa, the team at Brite Clean Smiles are here to help! We offer emergency appointments for root canals, so we can relieve the pain and discomfort of an infected tooth. Contact us now to schedule an appointment at (949) 777-1005, or come to our office at 488 East 17th Street, Suite A-101, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627.
