Root Canal Therapy in
Cumming & Sandy Springs
My tooth hurts! What does it mean?
How it works:
The root canal treatment process
First things first, when you come in for care, one of our dentist will inspect your mouth and take any x-rays to diagnose the specific reason behind your issue. If it’s due to a tooth infection, we can decide if root canal therapy can reliably treat your smile.
Your dentist will clean and numb the site all the way down to the bone, including the nerves, using local anesthesia. If you’d prefer to be sedated, our team can help you pick what the best kind of sedation is for your needs.
Next, any decayed materials will be removed, starting with the enamel. Your dentist will work their way towards the middle of the tooth, eventually scraping out the unhealthy pulp. Then the area is disinfected to eliminate any lingering bacteria.
The interior of the tooth is filled with gutta-percha, a rubbery material that supports the tooth from the inside to help maintain its form.
The appearance and function of your tooth will be repaired with a dental filling or a customized crown. Most posterior teeth will need a crown, and your dentist will usually recommend it within 2 weeks of the root canal being completed.
Anterior Root Canals
Anterior root canals are performed on your front teeth. Since front teeth are smaller than posterior (rear) teeth and have less surface area, they can be more difficult to treat and restore a restoration if it gets damaged. Posterior teeth have a large surface area, allowing our team to create an opening at the top of the tooth. This isn’t possible with a front tooth; therefore, the opening needs to be made on the lingual surface (side that faces the tongue) of the tooth.
Posterior Root Canals
Posterior root canals are used to treat infected molars or premolars, teeth that reside in the back of the mouth. Due to their location and their pitted, grooved surfaces, posterior root canals are a more common treatment than their anterior counterparts. In a posterior root canal, an opening is made in the crown, or top, of the infected tooth, which provides easy access to the interior pulp and root canals. Once the inside of the tooth has been cleared of bacteria and decay, the tooth will be restored with a filling or a dental crown.
Retreatment
Root canal therapy is one of the most successful dental treatments around, able to preserve an infected or damaged tooth’s natural structure with a success rate of about 95%. However, a variety of factors could cause a tooth that has received root canal therapy to heal improperly, or for the infection to return. Due to the complex structure of the canals within your tooth, it is possible for some bacteria to survive and multiply even after getting root canal therapy. Another way for bacteria to make their way back into the treated area is via an improperly fitted dental crown. No matter the cause, a failed root canal may require root canal retreatment to save the tooth and avoid extraction.
Pulpotomies
Pulpotomies, often called “baby root canals,” are a treatment commonly used to restore infected baby teeth, although it may be used on adult teeth if necessary. The procedure itself is also similar to that of a normal root canal, with the difference lying in the amount of pulp removed from the tooth.
Your dentist will begin by cleaning and numbing the treatment area before removing any decayed enamel and creating an opening in the tooth. They will proceed to remove the top layers of the pulp, leaving nothing but the healthy pulp, instead of clearing out all of it like in a traditional root canal. Once the infection has been eliminated, the interior of the tooth will be flushed and sanitized.
A special healing dressing will then be applied to the remaining pulp to encourage it to heal and keep the tooth alive.
Have Questions About Root Canal Therapy?
Find answers here.
If you’re dealing with a tooth infection, chances are you will need root canal therapy. Tooth infections generally occur in one of two ways:
- Cavities can erode the outer layers of your enamel and eventually, the dentin. The decay can reach the interior of the tooth to expose the vulnerable pulp to bacteria that causes the infection.
- Dental trauma can create a crack in the tooth, creating an opening for bacteria to enter the nerve and blood vessel-filled pulp.
No matter how the infection occurs, it will cause the pulp to begin to decay and eventually die. When this happens, you’ll experience a toothache, gum inflammation near the tooth, and tooth sensitivity to temperature and pressure.
No! Root canal therapy has come a long way in recent years, and modern techniques ensure that this procedure is pain-free and comfortable. In fact, the procedure is similar to getting a dental filling, and patients who receive root canal therapy can expect their discomfort to be relieved almost instantly.
Your mouth will be completely numbed before any work begins, and you can even choose to be sedated if you would like. Root canal therapy is the best way to alleviate the pain and discomfort of an infected tooth.
Root canals are one of the most effective dental treatments, but in very rare cases, they can fail. If there is any decayed material or bacteria left behind, the infection can return. If this happens, you’ll need to return to our office for root canal retreatment, during which your tooth will be reopened, and the root canal process will be repeated to ensure that the infection is completely removed this time.
Not always. Although dental crowns are usually the best way to protect your tooth after getting a root canal and are frequently recommended for posterior teeth (molars and premolars), fillings can also be used to restore anterior (front) teeth. Your dentist will let you know what kind of restoration is best for you after your root canal has been completed.
Root canal therapy is usually covered, at least in part, by most major dental insurance providers. However, it’s best to consult with your insurance provider to understand your benefits.