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Save Your Tooth With Root Canal Therapy
A severe toothache is often a sign that the inside of your tooth, where the nerve and blood vessels live, has become infected or inflamed. Left untreated, this kind of infection can lead to intense pain, abscess formation, and eventually the loss of the tooth altogether. Root canal therapy addresses this problem directly, removing the infected tissue from inside the tooth so we can save your natural tooth rather than resorting to extraction.
At Oregon Smile Care Center, we provide root canal therapy in-house, so you can receive the treatment you need without being referred to another office. We understand that the words "root canal" can bring up some anxiety, often based on outdated ideas about the procedure. In reality, modern root canal therapy is a comfortable, routine treatment designed to relieve your pain, not cause it. Our goal is to help you keep your natural tooth functioning normally for years to come.
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What Is a Root Canal
A root canal is a treatment designed to remove infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, addressing the problem at its source rather than removing the tooth entirely. Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. When decay, injury, or a deep crack allows bacteria to reach this pulp, it can become infected, leading to pain, swelling, and eventually damage that threatens the tooth itself. During root canal therapy, the infected pulp is carefully removed, and the empty space inside the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed, allowing the tooth to remain in your mouth and function normally, typically protected afterward by a custom crown.
Are You a Candidate for Root Canal Therapy?
You may need root canal therapy if you're experiencing symptoms like severe tooth pain, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers, swelling or tenderness in the gums near a tooth, or a darkening of the tooth itself. These signs often point to infection or inflammation inside the tooth's pulp. During your exam, our team will use X-rays and a clinical evaluation to confirm whether root canal therapy is the right treatment, or whether the tooth has progressed to a point where extraction is a better option.
Your Root Canal Procedure, Step by Step
Understanding what happens during treatment can help ease any anxiety about your upcoming appointment. Here's what to expect:
Numbing the Area
We apply local anesthetic to ensure the tooth and surrounding area are completely numb before beginning.
Accessing the Tooth
A small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the infected or inflamed pulp inside.
Removing the Infected Tissue
The damaged pulp is carefully removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected.
Shaping and Filling the Canals
The empty root canals are shaped and filled with a biocompatible material to seal out future infection.
Sealing the Tooth
A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth while a permanent crown is prepared.
Placing a Permanent Crown
In most cases, a custom crown is placed over the treated tooth to restore its strength and protect it for the long term.
What Happens Without Treatment
It's worth understanding what can happen if an infected tooth goes untreated. Without root canal therapy, the infection can spread beyond the tooth into the surrounding bone and tissue, sometimes forming a painful abscess. In more serious cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, making prompt treatment important not just for your tooth, but for your overall health. Extraction eventually becomes the only remaining option once a tooth is too damaged to save, which is why addressing symptoms early gives you the best chance of preserving your natural tooth.
Recognizing the Signs You May Need Treatment
Tooth infections don't always announce themselves with obvious pain right away, which is why it's important to recognize the early warning signs. Common symptoms that may indicate a need for root canal therapy include:
- Persistent or severe tooth pain, especially when chewing
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers well after the stimulus is removed
- Swelling or a small bump on the gums near the affected tooth
- Darkening or discoloration of the tooth
- Tenderness or swelling in nearby lymph nodes
If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to schedule an evaluation promptly, since delaying treatment can allow the infection to spread and potentially put the tooth beyond saving.
Get Relief From Tooth Pain Today
If you're dealing with a persistent toothache or other signs of infection, don't wait for the problem to get worse. Root canal therapy can relieve your pain and save your natural tooth. Call Oregon Smile Care Center today to schedule your evaluation.
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