If you’ve suffered an injury (like some kind of impact to your face) or you have a dental cavity that’s gone undetected for too long, you might experience an infection in the root of your tooth. If this is the case, the team at Harmony Dental Care in Oshawa, ON may recommend that you go through root canal therapy in order to remove the bacteria and stop the infection from spreading.
If you’re like most people, you might be a bit anxious or afraid of the idea of having a root canal done. You can take some of the fear out of a root canal by reading on about what the procedure actually entails.
The Procedure
Before beginning the root canal therapy, the dentist at Harmony Dental Care will begin by taking x-rays of your mouth. This will allow them to make sure that there is an infection, and that the root canal therapy is necessary. They can also check the condition of the tooth.
After the x-ray, you’ll receive a local anesthetic in order to numb the area. A dental dam may be placed at this point to keep the tooth separate and dry.
The next part of the procedure is accessing the infection in the root. This means that we will be drilling down the middle of your tooth. Files are used to remove the infected pulp and then shape the inner chamber of your tooth. At this stage, we might need to wash the chamber in order to make sure that we have all of the diseased pulp out. An antimicrobial solution will be used to kill bacteria and prevent the infection from coming back.
Once your tooth is cleaned of all bacteria, it is necessary for the dentist to fill the space that’s left behind. A natural latex called gutta percha is used for this. Then the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. You’ll need to come back a few weeks later in order to receive a more permanent restoration. This is usually a dental crown, though sometimes it can be combined with a supporting post in the tooth to help with the structure.
Recovery
Once your root canal is completed, you’ll need to make sure you take good care of your oral hygiene to prevent the infection from returning or from getting another one, especially if the infection was caused by tooth decay. Harmony Dental Care will give you advice on how to best take care of your tooth at home. You’ll also receive instructions on when to come back for another checkup.
