Services

Root Canal Treatment

If you are experiencing pain in your mouth, you may be wondering where it is coming from. Root canal treatment or RCT, is a type of treatment that involves the removal of the tooth’s nerves and the pulp that is located within the tooth’s root. It is important to let your dentist know if you experience any pain that may be centralized to one tooth or pain that may occur when you drink something hot or cold.

RCT is designed to remove the interior portion of the tooth, clean it out, and then seal it to allow you to avoid an extraction and keep your tooth intact. Many times, we will recommend that you have a root canal performed BEFORE an extraction is considered. In some serious cases, an extraction may be the only option.

When you come into C S Family Dental to have a root canal performed, it can take anywhere from a single day to up to four days to complete it. Each visit will be anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour depending on how Dr. Alex Sohn wants to perform the procedure.

You never have to worry about pain when you come in for RCT. We know that the words root canal makes the procedure sound like it will hurt, but it doesn’t and it is no worse than having a filling. At your appointment, Dr. Sohn will use a local anesthetic to numb the area where the root canal will take place.

The anesthetic will numb the tissues of the tooth and the gums around the tooth, so you will not feel a thing. Prior to the local anesthetic, Dr. Sohn may apply a topical gel that will numb the area before the anesthetic is injected.

Once you are completely numb and cannot feel anything, don’t worry, we do check, the procedure will begin. Dr. Sohn will start by gaining access to your tooth with a special tool. Typically, a small hole will be made at the top crown of the tooth. Once the hole is made, Dr. Sohn will be able to stick a small tool into the tooth to remove the pulp. Once the pulp is removed, the interior of the tooth will be thoroughly cleaned to remove any bacteria and decay that may be present.

After the tooth is cleaned, it will then me sealed. Often times, a tooth that has had a root canal will also receive a crown to help protect it.

It is important for you to work with a trained professional such as Dr. Sohn because if the root is not cleaned and sealed properly, you may end up needing another root canal procedure. A single root canal does not mean that the tooth is free from any more decay or problems.

While the procedure itself is not supposed to be painful, some patients with sensitive teeth may experience some discomfort and pain. This pain usually does not come about until after the procedure has been done and you are on your way home. If this is the case, Dr. Sohn will prescribe you medication to deal with the pain, or you can take an over the counter pain pill to alleviate it.

Why Have a Root Canal Performed?

There are a number of reasons why you may need to have a root canal performed. Let’s take a look at some of them now.

1. Pain

If you have extreme sensitivity or pain in your tooth, this is generally a sign that you need to have a root canal performed. Sensitivity to cold items or very hot items is not a cause for concern unless it occurs often and causes you to cringe. Sometimes, sensitivity is the only warning sign you will receive because decay may not be present on the tooth.

Once the root canal procedure is done, you will no longer feel this pain or sensitivity in your tooth as the pulp is removed.

2. Severe Dental Decay

When a cavity is not handled in a timely manner, it will grow. When it does, it will eventually reach down into the root of the tooth. When this happens, the only option is to perform a root canal. A filling will not help you at this point.

3. Infection

It is possible for an infection to occur inside of the tooth or at the root. When this happens, you will need to have a root canal performed to remove the infection and the tooth’s pulp. Infections on the nerve are not normally caused by any type of tooth decay and can happen spontaneously without any reason.

Infection and inflammation is generally your first indication that there is a problem with your tooth and you need to seek out treatment for it.

4. Pre-Crown Restoration

Sometimes a root canal will be recommended for someone who wants to receive a crown. This is not always the case, but it can happen. The reason behind the root canal treatment is that Dr. Sohn needs to prep the tooth for the crown and he may need to touch the nerve or get close to the never. Removing the tooth’s pulp will actually help you in the long run because you will not extreme sensitivity.

Contact Our Office Now to Schedule Your RCT Appointment

If you think that you need to have a root canal performed, contact the professionals at C S Family Dental in Denver, CO. We are committed to making sure that you are always in the best dental health that you can be in.

Dr. Sohn has performed thousands of root canals and will make sure that you fully understand the procedure and why it needs to be done. We believe that it is our job to save your teeth and not simply extract them when there is a problem.

Don’t hesitate any longer and do not grit down in pain. We are here to help! Contact C S Family Dental now to schedule your consultation with Dr. Sohn.