Root Canals
While there are many great restorative treatment options for missing teeth, nothing compares to the strength of your natural teeth. At Pike & Valega, DDS, we may be able to help you save a natural tooth if it has become diseased or infected by performing a root canal.
What Is a Root Canal?
Your teeth have multiple layers to them. The layers of the tooth are:
- Enamel is the hard protective shell that is visible above the gum line.
- Dentin is below the enamel and surrounds the pulp of the tooth. It provides the ability to feel sensations such as hot and cold.
- The cementum is the third layer located between a tooth’s root and the gum.
- The pulp is the center of the tooth. It is made up of nerves and blood vessels. It is extremely sensitive and often responsible for sending pain signals to the brain.
When tooth decay starts to develop, it slowly wears away at the first layer of the tooth — the enamel. If the tooth decay is not properly removed or treated with a filling, the bacteria continue to spread through the different layers of the tooth.
Once the bacteria enters the pulp, the most common treatment option for tooth decay and cavities, a filling, can no longer be performed. Instead, a different procedure, known as a root canal, needs to be done.
A root canal is a dental procedure that removes the infection that has spread to the pulp.
Root Canals Save a Tooth
Before root canals, if a tooth was infected or injured, the only option was to pull it. Pulling a tooth causes a number of problems ranging from bone loss and shifting of existing teeth in the mouth to difficulty eating and speaking. Root canals allow dentists to treat infected or injured teeth without having to remove the tooth.
By having the option to treat an injured or infected tooth with a root canal, dentists can save a patient’s tooth. Saving a patient’s natural tooth is preferred as they are stronger and help preserve the shape and structure of the face and jaw.
What Happens During a Root Canal?
Before your root canal, our dental team will administer a local anesthetic. Once the area is properly numb, our dentist will make a small opening in the top of the tooth. This opening is necessary to provide our dentist access to the infected or injured pulp.
After the pulp has been exposed, our dentist will use special tools to remove it. Our dentist makes sure to remove all areas of the pulp, including those that reach into the tooth’s canals. Upon removing the pulp, our dentist will clean and disinfect the canals.
A special material, known as gutta-percha, is then used to seal the canals and fill the tooth.
The final step of the process is to close the opening at the top of the tooth. Depending upon the size of the opening, our dentist may be able to close it with a dental filling. However, a dental crown may be recommended if the tooth has been weakened.
Should Root Canals Be Performed by Specialists?
Due to the relatively complex nature of root canals, it is important to visit a dentist with extensive experience performing this procedure. At Pike & Valega, DDS, our patients are fortunate to benefit from having Dr. D. Timothy Pike on our team.
Dr. D. Timothy Pike has extensive experience performing root canals. Patients needing a root canal don’t have to be referred out or sent to a specialist. They can receive treatment from the dental team they know and trust.
Schedule a Root Canal Consultation To Learn More
We would love to discuss how we can help you should you need a root canal. Call us to schedule an appointment for a root canal consultation. Our experienced dentist, Dr. D. Timothy Pike, will assess your case and determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. If you aren’t a good candidate for a root canal, the dental team at Pike & Valega, DDS can help you explore other treatment options.
