Root Canal Therapy in Flagstaff AZ

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Professional Care For Root Canal in Flagstaff AZ

Root Canal Therapy or RCT, is a standard treatment for teeth whose nerve has been compromised from either trauma or a very deep cavity. Dentists perform this procedure when the infection has reached the tooth's nerve and blood vessels, often causing swelling, pain and inflammation. If this is not treated, the infection can reach your jawbone and potentially cause permanent damage. The root canal procedure removes the infected nerve tissue and ‘seals’ the tooth from further infection. It is completed under local anesthetic and is the treatment of choice to save many teeth.

A root canal is a widely preferred treatment to save a tooth that otherwise would have to be extracted. Some patients believe that having a tooth removed will resolve the tooth problem. But what is often misunderstood is that extracting a tooth has other, potentially long-lasting, complications that can be avoided with root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is highly beneficial and usually lasts a lifetime. On occasion, however, a root-canaled tooth may have to be treated for new infections.

It is important to get proper RCT from a professional once you have been diagnosed with infected roots or pulp because, without treatment, this can lead to:

• An infected swelling that can spread to other parts of your mouth, face, and head.
• Bone loss around the root area
• Infected fluids can drain into the gums, spreading the infection further or even penetrating the cheek.

In every case, the outcome is the same; ignoring the problem will simply make it grow larger and potentially infect much more of your mouth, face, and head. But, with a proper diagnosis of the problem, a few RCT techniques can be employed depending on the severity of the infection.

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When Should You Undergo Root Canal Therapy?

• When the decay has reached the tooth pulp
• When the tooth has incurred injury or trauma
• When your tooth hurts when exposed to hot and cold foods. It means your tooth is potentially infected or damaged and can be salvaged with root canal therapy.
• When your gums swell near the painful tooth
• When there is an abscess or pimple present on the gums, indicating an infection in the tooth. This can cause an unpleasant taste in your mouth and also emit an unpleasant odor from your mouth.
• When you have suffered an injury which might have damaged the nerves of the tooth. Root canal treatment may be needed when the nerve has become inflamed, causing you pain and sensitivity.

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What Is Involved in Root Canal Therapy?

The root canal treatment starts with the numbing of the affected tooth with local anesthesia. An opening is then made on the chewing surface of the tooth and a series of root canal instruments are inserted into the openings. Then, one root and nerve at a time, the infected pulp, bacteria, and nerve tissue are removed. Once the tooth is meticulously cleaned, it will be sealed and a filling will be placed over the access opening. Soon after, a crown is secured over the tooth to protect it from breaking. The crown will provide additional strength to the tooth and restore its normal function.

Some of the procedures that can be employed are:

Pulpectomy

In the less serious cases, only a partial root canal, or pulpectomy needs to be performed. This is a two-step process. The first visit will give access to the pulp to administer antibiotics and ensure that the infection is eliminated in other parts of your mouth and confined to the pulp.

Once your mouth has recovered somewhat, the next step is to remove the infected pulp, then thoroughly clean, disinfect and fill the formerly infected canal.

Apicoectomy

In cases where an infection is more severe and goes beyond the root tip, a dentist may suggest an apicoectomy. The root tip, tissue, and apical infection are treated, requiring a much larger area to be opened in your tooth. Once the treatment has been completed, a biocompatible, rubbery, plant-based material known as Gutta Percha is used to fill in space and seal the tooth from bacteria and possible reinfection.

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Regular visits to a dentist and good oral hygiene practices will maintain the life of your root canal treatment. Typically, root canals are recommended by a dentist after a thorough examination. However, if you haven’t visited a dentist for quite some time and are experiencing unusual amounts of pain in your tooth, the infected pulp may be the problem. Call our team at Mountain West Family Dental today for an accurate assessment and see if a root canal can treat your problem.