Gentle Root Canal Treatment

At Paul Sioda Dental, we regularly perform root canal endodontic treatment in order to remove infections and save our patients’ teeth. The Team at Paul Sioda Dental is expert at completing the procedure while keeping patients completely comfortable. Root canals are a common procedure. In fact, every year millions of root canals are performed, which greatly reduces the need to pull infected teeth. If you live in the Tacoma area and are experiencing tooth pain, call 253-759-7941 to schedule an appointment and see whether you need root canal endodontic treatment.

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Why do most people need a root canal?
When a tooth becomes infected, that infection can spread into the center of the tooth. This area is called the dental pulp. Inside the dental pulp are the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. All the tooth's sensitive areas are contained here. As a result, when the area becomes infected, it can be incredibly painful and may require immediate treatment. We can perform a root canal quickly on people living in and around the 98406 area.

 

How does the treatment work?
A root canal endodontic procedure creates a small opening in the tooth so the dentist can remove all infected areas. The dentist removes the dental pulp, and often the roots as well. You only need your tooth roots to feel sensations like hot and cold and for the tooth to grow in. Once it has fully matured, removing the roots will not directly harm the tooth. It can, however, prevent the further spread of infection so when it is necessary to remove the roots; we promptly do so. Once done, we will clean the area to ensure that the infection is gone. The Team at Paul Sioda Dental will typically prescribe antibiotics as well. This helps eliminate any lingering infection.

 

To complete the root canal, we will seal the hole and area where the dental pulp used to be. We typically do this with something called gutta-percha. This rubber-like substance helps stabilize the tooth now that a portion is missing. At Paul Sioda Dental, we then use a filling or crown to further strengthen and protect the damaged tooth. Both fillings and crowns can now be created in a tooth color. This means that regardless of where your infected tooth is located, a crown can be used and will blend seamlessly with the surrounding teeth. Patients throughout the Tacoma area appreciate how natural their tooth looks once the procedure is complete.

 

Why should I have a root canal endodontics treatment?
If you live in Tacoma, WA, schedule an appointment with The Team at Paul Sioda Dental to discuss your tooth health, any problems you may be having, and what should be done to heal and protect the tooth. If a root canal is the best option, we will recommend it. If not, we will recommend a treatment that addresses your health issue. Overall, root canal endodontic treatment is extremely effective at saving damaged teeth by removing any infection that may be present. This single treatment can save millions of teeth each year, and once it's complete, eating and drinking become easy again.

 

What about discomfort?
We help patients throughout New Jersey to feel comfortable during their root canal endodontic procedure by using sedation dentistry. We have a variety of ways that we can eliminate both discomfort and anxiety during a root canal. Whether a patient needs to take something ahead of time to relax or medication to numb the specific area being worked on, The Team at Paul Sioda Dental specializes in painless dentistry and ensures patients can enjoy their dental treatments.

 

What are the advantages of this procedure?
In the past, many people would need to have their teeth pulled if they became severely infected or the dental pulp became inflamed. Now, a root canal can save those same teeth. This is a far better option because it keeps the natural tooth in place. This matters for facial shape because, as teeth fall out, the muscles in the face can start to sag. While this isn’t particularly common with the loss of one tooth, it is when several become infected and fall out. By treating and saving an infected tooth,

 

The Team at Paul Sioda Dental helps preserve our patients’ facial structure.

Another benefit is that once the root canal is complete and the filling or crown is in place, you can eat normally without restrictions. Once the infection is gone and the tooth is strengthened, it will behave like it used to. That lets you bite down with normal force, chew, and maintain normal activities without worrying about the tooth. This helps patients throughout Tacoma return to their busy schedules.

 

A restored tooth will look completely natural when a tooth-colored crown or filling is used. In fact, crowns can be created in the exact shade of the surrounding teeth so that it blends in perfectly. This way, no one will know you ever had a procedure. If you previously had a root canal, you may want to replace the filling or crown with today’s version for a better appearance.

Alternatively, if you don’t have a root canal endodontic procedure completed, the infected tooth will likely need to be pulled. This is essential for preventing the spread of infection.

 

Once the tooth is removed, you will need to replace it. Options include wearing a denture, getting a dental bridge, or having dental implants installed. These are all viable solutions but take more time, and recovery is longer because the procedures involve several steps. Therefore, the easiest and most straightforward solution is to have The Team at Paul Sioda Dental save your tooth by performing a root canal endodontic procedure. To learn more about this option, call Paul Sioda Dental at 201-244-7658 and schedule an appointment.

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HELPFUL RELATED LINKS

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015

• WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015