Are Root Canals Safe?

Root canals are safe procedures that can save your natural teeth. Root canals remove and treat infected pulp inside the tooth, relieving pain and potentially saving natural teeth from extraction.

Reasons Why You May Need a Root Canal

Dental Pain

If your tooth is painful when you chew on it or has a sharp pain that comes and goes, chances are you need a root canal. You may also have pus around your gum line or pimple-like swellings. If you notice these symptoms, call an endodontist as soon as possible for an evaluation.

Severe Decay

If your tooth has decayed to the stage where the interior becomes exposed, you may need a root canal. If the tooth's interior is exposed, saliva and food could enter and cause the pulp to become infected.

Broken Tooth or Dental Trauma

Teeth frequently break when people fall, or experience blows to the face, such as a sports accident. A broken tooth will let in bacteria and expose the sensitive pulp. A root canal will stabilize the tooth.

Cracked Tooth

If your pain comes and goes and your tooth feels unstable, it may have cracked. Endodontists can treat cracked teeth by performing a root canal.

The Root Canal Procedure

Today, root canals are highly advanced. When performed by a qualified endodontist, the procedure is comfortable for the patient and has excellent results.

First, the endodontist opens the tooth's crown. They remove the inflamed or infected pulp from the tooth's interior. They go deep into the root canals using specialized instruments, removing the pulp and clearing the infection. Many endodontists use surgical microscopes and other tools to ensure that they remove all of the damaged material.

Depending on the infection's severity, the endodontist may place an antibiotic inside the tooth and a temporary filling. In a few days, the endodontist fills the tooth with gutta-percha and seals it with a temporary crown. The patient visits their general dentist for a permanent crown to complete the repair.

Are Root Canals Painful?

This misconception comes from decades ago when root canal treatment had not advanced to its current level. Today, most patients report that a root canal causes no more discomfort than a standard filling. Most patients who have not had a root canal in years are surprised to find how comfortable the procedure can be.

Choose an Endodontist

When getting a root canal, always opt for an endodontic specialist. An endodontist has extensive training and experience in root canals and can make the procedure as safe and comfortable as possible. If you see a general dentist for a root canal, chances are that you will have to repeat the procedure in the future.

Call Rhode Island Endodontics

If you need a root canal procedure, call our Warwick, RI, office at 401-337-9150. We can make a convenient appointment, relieve your pain, and do our best to save your natural tooth from extraction.