Root Canal
Underneath your tooth’s outer enamel, within the dentin, is an area of soft tissue called pulp. This pulp contains nerve fibers, arteries, veins, lymph vessels, and connective tissue. Every tooth’s nerve enters the tooth at the very tip of its roots. Root canals carry the very small, thin divisions of the nerve that branch off from the top pulp chamber. Each tooth has between one and four root canals.
Diagnosing A Root Canal in Stoney Creek
Pulp can become infected from a deep cavity, a fracture that lets bacteria in, or injury. When this happens, the pulp can actually die. This leads to pain in the tooth, usually felt when biting down, chewing, or eating hot or cold foods and drinks.
Once the pulp starts to decay, your tooth won’t heal by itself. Many patients wait until they feel a constant, throbbing pain to visit the dentist. This can be a bad idea. The sooner you receive dental care, the more chances you have of stalling more serious effects.
When you come to Gateshead Dental we combine our experienced care with the latest technology to find out what is causing your tooth pain. We’ll look for signs of decay and infection and any bumps on the gums. We’ll also take an X-ray to gain more information.
Your tooth pain might be caused by cavities, gingivitis, wear facets, TMJ disorder, general tooth sensitivity, or something else. Whatever the case, we’ll find it for you and get it resolved.
Symptoms to watch out for:
- Sharp pain in teeth while eating or when pressing on a tooth.
- Swelling that presents as a bump or a pimple on the gums near the teeth that are in pain (sign of tooth abscess).
- Teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold foods or cold air, and pain that lingers even after removing the stimulus.
- Dark spots or areas on a tooth.
- General tenderness or swelling in the gums around the affected tooth.
- Severe pain in a tooth that has suddenly stopped.
- Pain or swelling in the sinus cavity above the tooth, or in the lymph nodes under the jaw.
Our Root Canal Treatment Process
If we find in our examination that bacteria have gotten into the pulp of a tooth, we’ll talk with you about Hamilton root canal treatment. This procedure, if performed in time, can prevent loss of the affected tooth. Here’s how it works:
- We numb the treatment site to prevent any pain during treatment and prepare the tooth for drilling.
- The decayed enamel is drilled and cleared away, continuing down into the tooth’s pulp chamber.
- Using the latest, specialized tools, we clean away the diseased pulp inside the tooth.
- A type of rubber paste called gutta-percha fills the tooth canals permanently. The chamber above the canals is filled with either a temporary or permanent dental filling.
- If there is an infection or abscess that needs to be cleared with antibiotics, a course is prescribed. Pain during healing is usually minimal and can normally be managed with over-the-counter medications.
- It is recommended that the treated tooth be capped with a crown or fitted with a post and crown. This is because the extensive drilling can weaken the walls of the tooth and they will not stand up to the same wear and tear that they could originally endure.
If you suspect the need for root canal treatment or are experiencing persistent pain, it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent severe infection or tooth loss. Gateshead Dental will get you the root canal care you need.