Root Canal
Dental abscesses and infections can be extraordinarily unpleasant. Furthermore, they can pose significant risks to your oral and overall well-being. With a root canal in El Cajon at Highland Smiles Dentistry, patients can save an infected tooth and experience immense symptom relief.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a routine procedure for treating a tooth in which the pulp is damaged or infected. In most cases, this happens due to tooth decay. Injuries that crack the tooth can also expose and damage the pulp.
The pulp is the soft inner portion of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels are. Normally, these remain nestled safely in the tooth. But as decay eats away at a tooth, they can become exposed to infectious bacteria. An infected tooth will make itself known through a range of symptoms. Beyond this, letting an infection persist can put you at risk of it spreading. Rapid treatment also means rapid relief from pain, swelling, and other awful symptoms.
What Is the Process for Having a Root Canal?
What patients need to know first is that a root canal is not painful. This routine dental procedure follows the same outline for each patient. Dr. Mansour ensures you feel fully comfortable at each step.
Step 1: The Consultation
First, we assess your situation and see if a root canal can resolve the problem. The sooner you come in, the better the results tend to be. Putting off treatment can only worsen the situation and put your tooth at risk of dying.
In some cases, we may recommend extraction instead of a root canal. But we reserve this procedure only for cases in which the tooth is beyond saving.
Step 2: Clearing Out the Pulp
If you do need a root canal, we get to work right away. Dr. Mansour will clear out all the infected pulp and eliminate any decay on the tooth. This might sound intimidating, but the entire process involves no pain. We use sufficient local anesthetic to numb the tooth entirely. You may feel some pressure and vibration but no pain.
Step 3: Filling and Sealing the Tooth
Once he is certain the tooth is free of infection and bacteria, it is filled with a material called gutta-percha. To literally top the procedure off, Dr. Mansour seals the top of the tooth to prevent any bacteria from accessing it. If the tooth has significant damage, we may cap it with a custom-made dental crown. Either way, your smile will be restored after your visit with Dr. Mansour.
The longer you wait to treat a root canal, the more unpleasant the symptoms become. But a sudden cessation to pain may mean the tooth has fully died.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
If you have an infected tooth, you will need treatment ASAP. We even offer same-day treatments for patients with severe symptoms requiring a root canal. Postponing treatment may worsen the problem and require more intensive treatments later on (such as tooth extraction). The sooner you have treatment, the sooner you can experience drastic relief from your symptoms.
Symptoms of a tooth infection can include:
- Pain (strong, persistent)
- Changes in tooth sensitivity to temperature
- Tooth discoloration (brown, gray, black)
- Swollen, tender, or pimpled gums
- A bad taste in your mouth (or persistent bad breath)
Alternative options can include:
- Dental Fillings: In cases of mild tooth decay, patients may only need a dental filling.
- Inlay or Onlay: These can restore a decayed or damaged tooth that does not have the inner pulp at risk.
How Long Do Root Canal Treatments Last?
The more skilled your dentist, the better the foundation you have for a long-lasting root canal. Furthermore, your at-home oral hygiene routine will also affect root canal longevity. With proper care and routine dental visits, patients can expect a treated tooth to last about 10 or more years, with some lasting almost 20 years.
Book Your Consultation
If you think you have in infected tooth, call us today to set up an appointment for a root canal in El Cajon. Dr. Mansour carefully conducts each procedure to maximize patient comfort, your safety, and the results.
We Can Fix the Most Complex Dental Problems
Book a consultation with our dental specialists today!