How You Can Save Your Tooth Via A Root Canal Treatment

A root canal treatment is what your dentist in Whittier or Los Angeles may recommend if you have adverse tooth decay, acute abscess (tooth infection), or severely damaged tooth. The name makes it sound as though the tooth will have a gap, but it is meant to save it and eliminate the need to remove the tooth.

Couple Brushing Teeth In Whittier, CA


A tooth has soft inner tissue protected by a hard outer layer. The tissue contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the tooth. When it gets infected, then your tooth will face the following issues:

• Deep cavity

• A crack or fracture

• Injury even if no chip or crack is visible

• Several dental procedures that affect the soft tissue

If the issues are left untreated, the tissue around the root of the tooth becomes infected. The infection will cause swelling and pain. It also led to the formation of abscess inside the tooth. And if this infection is not treated, it can spread and affect the bone at the end of the tooth’s root. In the end, the likelihood of losing the tooth because the infection will have destroyed the bones keeping the tooth connected to the jaw.

Is The Treatment Possible During A Regular Dental Check-Up Visit?

If your dentist finds that you have a tooth infection, you may be scheduled for a follow-up appointment for treatment. Alternatively, you may be referred to another dentist that specialized in treating the pulp and tissue surrounding the tooth. Such a specialist dentist is called an endodontist.

What Should I Expect With The Treatment?

It can take one or two visits to the dentist, and you will experience little to no pain since your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb your tooth and surrounding tissue. Once the root canal is completed, you should not feel the pain you did before getting the treatment.

The dentist will do a few things before starting the root canal treatment. The procedures will include:

1. Taking X-rays get a clear view of the tooth and the adjacent bone.

2. Numbing the tooth and the area around it using local anesthesia to eliminate any discomforts during treatment.

3. Applying a thin layer of latex rubber on the tooth to ensure it stays clean and dry, protecting it from bacteria, fungus, and viruses that may be in your mouth.

During the treatment, the dentist will do the following:

1. Drill the top of the tooth to create an opening.

2. Killing the tooth’s nerves of the inner tissue down to the root area known as the root canal.

3. After that, the dentist will clean the inside of the tooth and the root canal. The procedure may involve the use of medicine the disinfects the inside of the tooth.

4. The next phase will be where the dentist takes a rubbery material to fill and seal the root canals, protecting them from future infection.

5. Then a temporary filling is used. It will protect the tooth for some time, up until a permanent filling or crown can be done as soon as possible.

Endodontist Doing Root Canal

What Next After The Root Canal Treatment?

You may experience some sensitivity in the tooth and the surrounding area for a few days after the procedure. If the sensation persists, you should check with your dentist to find out what can be done to relieve the discomfort.

Your dentist may prescribe some antibiotics to prevent any infection from spreading. You should use the medication as directed and do a follow-up with the dentist in case of any issues that may arise.

The dentist will schedule another visit in which the temporary filling be removed and replaced with a crown or a regular filling. The new filling prevents further tooth damage. The dentist may place a plastic or metal post in the root canal that will support the filling to ensure it does not sink into the tooth. The post is necessary, especially if you are getting a crown.

How Long Will The Root Canal Filling Last?

If the root canal is done correctly and you take proper care of it, then the restored tooth can last. You also need to observe proper dental hygiene. Brush twice daily using fluoride toothpaste. Take around two minutes when brushing. Also, consider flossing so that you can clean between the teeth where the brush bristles may not fit. And remember to go for your routine dental checkups so that you ensure you have strong, healthy teeth and a bright smile.

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