Root Canals

The mere mention of a root canal procedure makes some patients nervous. After all, drilling sensations aren’t comfortable, and removing the nerves from your tooth sounds very painful. At Arizona Advanced Dental in Mesa, Arizona, Donald Clifford, DDS, and Casey Cutler, DDS, offer fast and pain-free root canals that restore your original tooth after an infection. To find out if you need a root canal, book an appointment by phone or online at Arizona Advanced Dental today.

What are root canals?

Root canal procedures, often just referred to as root canals, are designed to save your tooth from the possibility of extraction due to damage or decay. Your dentist creates a small hole in the top of your tooth. Through the hole, they remove the nerves and pulp tissue from the inside of your tooth and all of the canals in the root, which may be infected at this point.

A fully developed tooth can survive and thrive without its pulp and nerves as long as it’s filled and sealed.

Before filling and sealing your tooth with durable rubber-like material, your dentist thoroughly cleans the inside using the WaveOne™ device to reach deep into the canals. Dr. Clifford or Dr. Cutler may decide to wait a week before permanently sealing your tooth. During this time, they may medicate the inside of your tooth to kill off any remaining infection.

If they don’t clear your tooth on the day of the root canal, they’ll place a temporary filling in the hole to keep the inside clear of debris.

When do I need a root canal?

Dr. Clifford or Dr. Cutler recommends root canals when the nerves or pulp inside your tooth becomes inflamed or infected. This might happen because of:

• Excessive dental work
• Deep cracks or chips that expose your pulp
• Tooth decay
• Impact to your tooth or face without visible tooth damage

In any case, inflamed pulp leads to an abscess, or serious tooth infection, if you don’t treat it. Without treatment, you’ll undoubtedly lose your tooth completely and the infection may spread to your jawbone.

What does a root canal feel like?

While root canals have the unfortunate reputation of causing a lot of pain, modern dentistry techniques allow you to undergo the procedure without feeling much of it at all. At Arizona Advanced Dental, Dr. Clifford or Dr. Cutler may give you nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, before your procedure. You’ll be awake, but you’ll feel very comfortable and at ease.

Additionally, your dentist numbs the area around your affected tooth with local anesthesia. This stops you from feeling pain or discomfort during the drilling portion of the procedure. You’ll feel some tooth sensitivity after the procedure, but this should go away with over-the-counter pain relievers.

You shouldn’t ignore a painful or overly sensitive tooth, especially after an injury. To find out if you need a root canal, book an appointment by phone or online at Arizona Advanced Dental today.