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Root canal therapy is one of the most common dental procedures, with about 15 million Americans receiving treatment each year. At Rainier Dental in Bonney Lake, Puyallup, Sumner, and Tacoma, Washington, the skilled dental team has years of experience performing root canal therapy. Treatment is quick, pain-free, and prevents the need for a tooth extraction. Call the nearest Rainier Dental office today to schedule an appointment, or book your visit online.
Root Canal Q&A
What symptoms might indicate I need a root canal?
Make an appointment at Rainier Dental if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Persistent tooth pain
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Swollen gums
- A swollen jaw
- Tooth discoloration
- Sensitivity when you eat or touch your tooth
- Loose tooth
These issues don’t necessarily mean you need a root canal, but an oral exam is essential to determine the best treatment approach.
What is root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy is an outpatient procedure that preserves a severely decaying or damaged permanent tooth.
During treatment, your Rainier Dental provider removes the pulp from the center of your tooth. Your tooth pulp is soft and made up of nerves and blood vessels. It lets you feel temperature sensations but isn’t necessary for a tooth’s survival.
Removing the pulp from an infected or damaged tooth stops the pain, reduces the risk of severe complications, and prevents the need for a tooth extraction.
What does root canal therapy involve?
At Rainier Dental, root canal therapy takes two visits a week apart.
If the team determines you can benefit from a root canal, they numb your mouth with a local anesthetic and remove the pulp from the center of your tooth. They rinse the center of your tooth out with an antiseptic solution and then fill it with gutta-percha, a soft, rubbery material.
After the gutta-percha dries, your dentist bonds a temporary crown on top of your tooth, allowing you to bite and chew while a dental lab makes a custom dental crown.
A week later, you visit Rainier Dental for a follow-up appointment. Your dentist removes the temporary crown from your treated tooth and replaces it with a permanent one. The permanent crown restores your tooth to its original shape, size, and appearance.
Is root canal therapy painful?
Root canal therapy is safe and usually well-tolerated. It’s normal to have mild swelling and increased tooth sensitivity after treatment, but these symptoms typically improve within a day or two.
Avoid biting down on your treated tooth while wearing your temporary restoration. Take any medication as prescribed and continue brushing and flossing daily. If your symptoms worsen or affect your biting and chewing, call the Rainier Dental team right away.
Call the nearest Rainier Dental office today to schedule a root canal therapy appointment, or book your visit online.