Comprehensive Root Canal Therapy in Catharines, ON: Restoring Your Smile Comfortably
At our Girardi Dental in Catharines, ON L2N 1S7, we understand that root canal therapy can cause anxiety for some patients. However, our experienced team will ensure your comfort throughout the process. Root canal treatment is a highly successful way to save a severely damaged tooth and eliminate pain. This service page will guide you through the procedure steps, pain management options, and post-treatment care.
What Root Canal Therapy Is
Our team of highly trained dentists near you may perform root canal treatment to clean out decayed material from the pulp chamber of your tooth. The tooth consists of enamel (the hard outer layer) and softer dentin underneath, which consists of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves, which assist in tooth development.
However, a fully developed tooth can survive and function without the pulp. Thanks to effective sedation methods, our patients feel no pain during the procedure. Our skilled dentists will clean and disinfect the root canal of the tooth, fill the root, and use a sealant to close the gap. Once the area heals, we will place a crown on the treated tooth to restore its strength, size, and full function.
When Is Root Canal Treatment Necessary?
Every toothache does not require root canal therapy. Our skilled dentists will first x-ray the tooth to clarify the location and extent of the damage. You may need root canal therapy near you if you notice:
- Sharp pain when biting down with the tooth
- A raised bump or small pimple at the site
- Darkening of the tooth (this happens when decay transforms into cavities)
- Lingering or heightened tooth sensitivity even after you consume hot or cold foods
The patient may not always experience pain but may still need root canal treatment. Many times, an infected root canal may show up as pain or discomfort only during advanced stages.
What Happens If You Postpone Root Canal Treatment?
If you don’t get root canal therapy when you need it, the infection in the tooth may spread to the gums and surrounding bone. Left untreated, it may result in systemic diseases like stroke and heart attack.
If you need help with a sensitive or painful tooth, please contact and book a dentist appointment at Girardi Dental for root canal treatment in St. Catharines, ON.
Root Canal Therapy Procedure Steps:
- Assessment and Diagnosis: Our skilled dentist examines your tooth, identifies the source of pain or infection, and determines if root canal therapy is necessary.
- Anesthesia Administration: Local anesthesia is applied to numb the treatment area, ensuring you remain comfortable during the procedure.
- Access Opening: A small access hole is created in the tooth’s crown to reach the infected pulp chamber and root canals.
- Cleaning and Disinfection: The infected pulp is carefully removed, and the canals are washed, disinfected, and shaped to prepare for filling.
- Filling and Sealing: The cleaned canals are filled with biocompatible matter and sealed to prevent re-infection.
- Restoration: A crown or filling is placed on the treated tooth to restore strength and appearance.
Pain Management and Sedation Options:
Root canal therapy is performed under local anesthesia, ensuring you won’t experience any pain during the procedure. We also provide sedation options to help you relax if you feel anxious. Our team will make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Post-Treatment Care:
After your root canal therapy, it’s essential to follow these post-treatment care guidelines for a smooth recovery:
- Avoid Chewing on Treated Tooth: To prevent damage, refrain from biting down on the treated tooth until it’s fully restored with a crown or filling.
- Maintain Oral Hygiene: Keep the treated area clean by brushing and flossing regularly.
- Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage discomfort after the procedure.
- Follow-Up Appointments: Attend any scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing.
Root canal therapy at our Catharines, ON L2N 1S7 clinic is a pain-relieving and effective procedure. From pain management to post-treatment care, our team ensures your comfort and oral health. Get ready to restore your smile with confidence, knowing you’re in expert hands. If you have further questions or want to schedule a consultation, feel free to contact us. Your comfort and dental well-being are our top priorities.
Root Canal Therapy FAQs
Root canals and fillings are completely different procedures. When a tooth's root system becomes damaged due to bacteria, infection, or decay, root canal therapy is used to remove the damaged portion of the root system and seal it off from further damage.
If the tooth is damaged enough, it is possible to need fillings, crowns, and a root canal. Each procedure works differently to protect the function and integrity of the tooth so that it does not need to be extracted. If the dentist performs a root canal, it is to save the tooth's root system.
Most patients recover from a root canal in just a few days. Patients can expect a bit of soreness at the root canal site for a day or two after the procedure, but this is relieved with over-the-counter medication.
If the pain persists, grows worse, or you notice other symptoms, this is a sign that the dentist may need to reopen the root system to perform a further examination and potentially another root canal to clear more damage from the root of the tooth.
A crown is not always necessary after a root canal. Whether you need a crown or not will depend on how much of the tooth remains above the gum's surface once the root canal is complete. A small percentage of patients need both a root canal and a crown simultaneously.
In instances where you have a broken tooth and exposed root, these are the most likely scenarios where a person would need a crown as the root of the tooth has been exposed, which can cause pain and increase the risk of infection.
The dentist will require that the root canal heals fully and there is no further risk of damage before installing a crown. On average, a patient must wait about four weeks before we can install a crown.
If the dentist finds severe damage or needs to perform other procedures, such as fillings along with the root canal, this could increase the time between procedures as the time for recovery will also increase. Talk with your dentist to learn more.
The duration varies based on the tooth's complexity but usually takes 1-2 hours.
Thanks to local anesthesia, you shouldn't feel any pain during the procedure.
Yes, you can drive home following the procedure, as the effects of local anesthesia wear off relatively quickly.
Most patients recover within a few days, but individual experiences may vary.
The primary alternative is tooth extraction, which may necessitate further treatments like implants or bridges. Root canal therapy is often the preferred choice to save your natural tooth.
