Root Canal Treatment

Save Your Tooth, Not Your Pain

Root canals have a bad reputation as being painful, but the truth is quite different. Root canal treatment actually relieves pain, not causes it. A tooth that needs a root canal is already in pain because the nerve is infected or damaged. Root canal treatment removes the infected nerve tissue, eliminating the pain and saving your natural tooth. At Lincoln Smiles Dental, we perform root canals with advanced techniques and pain management strategies to ensure your comfort throughout treatment.

Understanding Root Canal Anatomy

To understand root canals, it helps to understand tooth anatomy. Your tooth has three main layers: the hard outer enamel, the middle layer of dentin, and the inner pulp chamber. The pulp chamber contains the tooth's nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The nerve extends from the pulp chamber down through root canals to the tip of the root, where it connects to the nerves in your jawbone.

In a healthy tooth, the nerve provides sensory function (allowing you to feel hot and cold) during the early years of the tooth's life. As the tooth matures, the nerve is less critical to the tooth's function. The tooth can function perfectly well without the nerve, as long as it remains vital (alive) and healthy. When the nerve becomes infected or damaged, root canal treatment removes it, eliminating the problem.

When Do You Need a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment becomes necessary when the nerve inside your tooth becomes infected or damaged. This can happen for several reasons. A large cavity that reaches the nerve requires root canal treatment. Deep decay that wasn't treated in early stages allows bacteria to reach the nerve. Trauma to your tooth, such as a crack or chip, can damage the nerve even if there's no visible decay. Sometimes a tooth that seemed fine develops a root canal problem years after an injury due to slow nerve damage.

Signs that you might need root canal treatment include severe toothache pain when biting or chewing, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, darkening or discoloration of the tooth, or swelling and tenderness in nearby gums. Some teeth needing root canals show no symptoms at all and are diagnosed during routine exams. If Dr. Sepi detects a nerve problem during your exam, she'll discuss treatment options with you.

If you have any of these symptoms, it's important to see us promptly. Early treatment preserves your tooth and prevents complications. Delaying treatment allows the infection to spread, potentially causing bone loss and severe complications. If the infected tooth isn't treated, the only option becomes extraction. Root canal treatment saves your natural tooth and prevents extraction.

The Root Canal Procedure

Root canal treatment involves several steps. We begin with comprehensive X-rays and examination to understand the tooth's anatomy and the extent of infection or damage. We discuss the procedure with you in detail and address any concerns. We then administer local anesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding area, so you won't feel pain during treatment.

Once the area is numb, we place a rubber dam around the tooth to keep it dry and isolated during treatment. We then create an access opening in the top of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber. Using specially designed instruments called files, we carefully remove the infected or damaged nerve tissue from the pulp chamber and root canals. We clean the canals thoroughly, removing all traces of nerve tissue, bacteria, and infected material.

After cleaning, we shape the canals using progressively larger files. The shaped canals are then filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha, which seals the canals and prevents future infection. We place the filling material with a sealer that bonds it to the canal walls. The access opening is then sealed with a tooth-colored restoration material.

The entire root canal procedure typically takes one to two hours depending on the complexity. After the procedure, you'll need a crown or other restoration to protect the treated tooth and restore it to full function. A tooth that's had root canal treatment is slightly more brittle than a living tooth and requires the protection of a crown to prevent fracture.

Pain Management During Root Canal

Most patients are surprised by how comfortable root canal treatment is. The tooth is completely numbed with local anesthetic before treatment begins, so you shouldn't feel pain during the procedure. You may feel pressure and vibration from the instruments, but not pain. If at any point you experience discomfort, let us know immediately and we'll apply additional anesthetic.

For patients with severe anxiety, we offer sedation options that help you relax during treatment. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) reduces anxiety while keeping you conscious and responsive. We can also discuss oral sedation or IV sedation if you have significant dental anxiety. Many anxious patients find that sedation makes the root canal experience much more comfortable and less stressful.

Some sensitivity and mild discomfort may occur for a few days after treatment as the tooth heals. This is manageable with over-the-counter pain medication. Most patients are amazed that root canal treatment actually relieves their pain, not causes it. The pain they felt before treatment (from the infected nerve) is gone, leaving only minor post-treatment sensitivity that resolves quickly.

Recovery and Aftercare

After root canal treatment, avoid chewing on the treated tooth until you get a permanent restoration. You can usually resume normal eating with other teeth. Some sensitivity to pressure or temperature may occur for a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen are usually sufficient to manage any discomfort. Most patients feel back to normal within a few days.

It's crucial to follow up with the crown or other restoration as soon as possible after root canal treatment. A tooth without its natural root is like a car without an engine and a shell without proper protection. The tooth becomes brittle and is at high risk for fracture. A crown protects the tooth and restores it to full function.

After treatment, care for your tooth like any other tooth. Brush and floss regularly, avoid hard foods that could crack the tooth, and visit us for regular checkups. Root canal-treated teeth have excellent long-term success rates. Most teeth that have had root canal treatment and are properly restored function normally for many years or for life.

Root Canals vs. Extraction

When a tooth needs root canal treatment, extraction is the only alternative. While extraction might seem simpler and cheaper upfront, losing a tooth has significant long-term consequences. After tooth extraction, bone loss occurs in the area where the root used to be. This bone loss affects your facial structure, making you look older. Remaining teeth drift and shift, affecting your bite alignment.

Replacing an extracted tooth requires either a bridge (which requires grinding down adjacent teeth and has its own problems) or an implant (which is expensive and requires surgery). Root canal treatment preserves your natural tooth, avoiding all these complications. Your natural tooth is always superior to any replacement. Saving your tooth with root canal treatment is the best option for your long-term dental health.

The cost of root canal treatment with a crown is usually comparable to or less than the cost of extraction followed by implant placement. Additionally, your natural tooth functions better than an implant. When you can save your natural tooth through root canal treatment, it's almost always the right choice.

Success Rates

Root canal treatment has a high success rate, typically 85 to 95% depending on various factors. The most important factors for success are thorough cleaning and shaping of the canals, proper sealing of the canals, and placing an appropriate crown to protect the tooth afterward. Proper aftercare and avoiding trauma to the tooth also contribute to success. Most root canal-treated teeth function successfully for many years, and many last a lifetime.