Root canals are a cornerstone of restorative dentistry, preserving natural teeth and promoting long-term oral health. At Cooley Smiles Everett, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care, including expertly performed root canal procedures, ensuring our patients enjoy healthy, functional smiles for years to come.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a restorative process that aids in pulp removal. The pulp consists of blood arteries, connective tissues, and nerves that help tooth development.
After eliminating the pulp, the dentist cleans, sterilizes, fills, and seals the tooth. This procedure prevents tooth loss.
Contrary to popular belief regarding root canals, the primary source of discomfort and pain is from the infection, not the treatment.
Before starting the procedure, the dentist will use an anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding region to ensure you don't feel pain. After the treatment, you may suffer some soreness, which may be relieved with over-the-counter medications.
Who Needs a Root Canal?
People who have infected, damaged, or irritated pulp might consider a root canal. It's also suitable for patients with an extensive cavity, a broken tooth, or problems from prior fillings.
Bacteria degrade the pulp and penetrate the root apertures, causing bone infection. This makes the bone weak and breaks down, causing the ligaments surrounding the tooth to swell and loosen the tooth.
If the infection is left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the mouth, and if it becomes severe, it leads to tooth extraction.
Patients with damaged pulp are susceptible to extremes in temperature, especially when they consume hot or cold drinks. Individuals who encounter discomfort or pain during chewing or biting require a root canal.
In addition, if you have darkened gums, swollen gums, or pimples on your gums, you likely need a root canal.
If you experience severe toothaches, schedule an appointment with our dentist for a dental checkup. We will diagnose any problems you may have during the dental exam and recommend the best treatment choice.
Root Canal Surgery
We will apply an anesthetic to the gums surrounding your damaged tooth. The purpose of anesthesia is to ensure you don't experience pain during the root canal procedure.
Once the tooth has been numbed, the dentist makes a small incision on the top of the tooth and eliminates damaged or wounded pulp using a file.
After the pulp has been removed, your dentist will apply antibiotics to the afflicted region to thoroughly cure the infection and eliminate the possibility of reinfection. The dentist will then clean and disinfect the canals.
A rubber-like substance or sealer paste is used to fill and seal the tooth. Your dentist will close the tiny opening in the tooth top with a soft temporary substance. The substance protects the canals from saliva damage.
Root Canal Treatment in Everett WA
You must visit our root canal dentist a few days after the root canal procedure.
Your doctor will conduct some tests to confirm that the area around the affected tooth is free of infection.Make sure you don't bite or chew on the injured tooth until it's permanently filled.
Call or visit us in Everett at (425) 249-3509 to schedule a root canal appointment!
