Root Canals
At Revelstoke Dental Centre in Revelstoke, BC, our team of dental professionals can work to save your natural tooth from damage and infection with root canal treatment.
What is root canal treatment?
The space inside the hard layers of each tooth is called the root canal system. This system is filled with soft dental pulp made up of nerves and blood vessels that help your teeth grow and develop.
When bacteria enters your tooth through deep cavities or cracks, your tooth can become abscessed. An abscessed tooth is a tooth with an infection in the pulp. If the pulp becomes infected, it needs to be removed. Otherwise, it can cause serious oral health problems.
Root canal treatment is the process of removing the infected, damaged or dead pulp from your tooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?
Signs to look for include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gum tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.
How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
The dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterward, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?
Root canals treatments are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.
For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your dentist's instructions carefully.
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your root canal treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call us.