Root Canal Therapy for Fullerton, CA community
You must have heard of the treatment called root canal near Fullerton, but do you know what it is really for? Why this procedure is needed, how it is performed? What will happen if the treatment is done too late?
Endodontics Therapy or root canal treatment is a procedure for saving a badly infected tooth from extraction. American Association of Endodontists states “Endodontists are specialists in saving teeth”. With just a part of the entire session, you’ll see a noticeable relief from tooth pain.
What is a Root Canal?
The part that you see in your teeth is called the crown. The crown is protected by a dental enamel that protects your teeth from daily use such as biting, crunching or chewing. Underneath the gum, the tooth is protected up to the tip of the root via dentine – that is less harder than enamel. Inside the tooth and along the length of it is the root and the long cavity is called the canal. The tooth is filled with a dental pulp, also known as the pulp chamber. The pulp contains nerve tissue, blood vessels and other matter that feeds the tooth. If the pulp gets infected, there will be an excessive pressure build up due to the formation of bacteria and debris. This will result in unbearable pain and discomfort. Root canal will get rid of the infected pulp; thus resulting to an immediate relief. It is also often a primary procedure general dentists near Fullerton do to save the tooth from extraction. Root canal is safer than tooth extraction; even if the patient has braces or oral health concerns the procedure can be done safely. The effect are well worth the procedure particularly if you find yourself in an extreme pain or discomfort.
How can the Root Canal get Infected?
It’s pretty trivial how a pulp gets infected inside when a hard enamel outside is there to protect it. However, the enamel weakness is actually the food you eat. You would think that preventing to eat specific types of food would keep your teeth healthy, but food particles can stick to the teeth after eating particularly in the interdental spaces, and the chewing surfaces of the molar or rear teeth. If you are not brushing or flossing your teeth regularly, the bacteria will always be present in your mouth and they will get the chance to convert sugar and carbohydrates present in your teeth and convert it into acids. Acids reduce the protective element of the saliva on the enamel and the weakened enamel will cause the tooth to erode. This results to cavities. When the cavities aren’t filled enough, the enamel will then get puncture and the infection will be able to reach the pulp.
The bacteria present in the mouth can also affect the gum. The loosening of the gums will expose the puncture and dentin layer that is under the gum. This will allow the infection to get into the pulp. Wherever the infection enters, the pulp must be eliminated to avoid repeated exposures to infection. If not, an abscess can build up in which tooth extraction is necessary.
There are other causes of pulp infection including a dental injury, a crack or chip in the tooth and repeated tooth restoration.
Why Not Extract An Infected Tooth?
This treatment costs more than the tooth extraction, so why not extract the tooth in the first place? Mainly because when a tooth is extracted, you will need an artificial tooth and artificial tooth can never replace the functionality of your natural tooth. Being able to smile or eat is compromised without the natural replacement of the tooth. The vacant gap will trigger the erosion of the jaw bone around the empty socket which leads to the further distortion of the facial features. Learn more about Root Canal Cost near me.
When Is A Root Canal Procedure Is Required?
A root canal can be used to treat various issues like a cracked tooth, dead tooth, and inflamed nerves, or dying nerves. It can also be done as re-treatment following a failed Root Canal Treatment (RCT). In some cases, it can also be used to remove the nerves of the teeth. The decision for the procedure can be made by yourself and following the dentist’s advice after listening to your concerns. Consult with us if you’re nearby Fullerton.
When is Endodontic therapy needed?
- Aching of the tooth
- Infection present in the mouth
- Severe swelling
- Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
What Your Dentist May Ask About The Symptoms
- Where is the pain located?
- For how long is the pain ongoing?
- Onset
- What type of pain is experienced? Is it continuous or pulsed?
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Observable Signs By Your Dentist
It is possible that you may not be aware of the problem until its already too late. But there are some hints that may still be obvious to a trained eye. This includes:
- The color of the tooth
- Pus discharge
- Changes in the soft tissue and asymmetry
How to identify a faulty tooth
Early signs may not be enough to have a clear diagnosis. Therefore, additional tests are required. The tests needed to identify a faulty tooth includes x-ray, thermal sensation, electric pulp testing and percussion.
Root Canal Step by Step procedure
Imaging – First, the dentist will take an exam of the condition of the infected tooth. Dentists will use X-ray image to determine the amount of damage in the tooth. X-Ray is useful because there are areas where your teeth has multiple roots, like in the rear teeth and any of them could be infected. The dentist needs to know which root is infected and its orientation.
Anesthesia – The Root Canal Treatment involves surgery that is why local anesthesia is used before operation.
Opening the canal – Patients are required to be sedated before the administration of anesthesia. Once the anesthesia is in effect, the dentist will drill a hole through the enamel to expose the infected area. This will immediately release the pressure inside. The patient won’t feel a thing even if the anesthesia wears off. The drilling is then performed in the crown of the molars, this form a lingual side in the front tooth.
Cleaning – The tooth subjected to a root canal treatment will be completely evacuated by removing the nerve tissue and the pulp matter. After that, the canal is flushed and dried thoroughly.
Sealing – When the canal is flushed, it shouldn’t be left vacant as there’s a high risk of having repeat infection. The empty canal is filled with gutta percha, a rubber material and a sealant solution so that there won’t be any empty space inside the canal.
Temporary Filling – As the mouth is healing, a new hole will be covered using a temporary filling.
Permanent Seal – If the procedure goes as planned, the temporary filling will be replaced with a permanent filling on the next appointment.
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Why is Crown placement necessary after Root Canal Surgery?
The root canal procedure will leave the tooth with thinner walls; therefore it will be vulnerable. It is highly recommended that the tooth is reinforced with dental crown after the healing has taken place.
If you choose to have a dental crown, the dentist will give you a temporary crown right away, and send the impressions to the lab for making of the permanent crown. Another visit to the dentist will then require fitting the crown. When the tooth is broken or weak, there will have additional hygiene work in preparation for the crown.
How Many Visits Does The Procedure Require?
The operation usually takes a minimum of two dental visits. The patient would meet with our Endodontist, Dr. Meghna Patel, DDS. During the second visit, the patient and the dentist will determine how things are going and whether there is any further work required. Some dentists will not give you a temporary filling and will go straight to a permanent filling on your first visit. If this is the case then the recovery process won’t take a while.
Root Canal (RCT) in Fullerton, CA
Think you need an Emergency root canal? Call us right away instead of spending any more time in pain. We make every effort to see our patients in pain as soon as possible. Our office is conveniently located near Fullerton, CA. Contact Us to make an appointment.