What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is necessary when a tooth’s nerve is infected or damaged due to decay. To save the damaged tooth, the pulp, the living tissue inside the tooth, nerves, bacteria, and decay are removed, and the space is filled with medicated dental materials to restore the tooth to full function. Even though they have a bad reputation, root canals are really helpful.

Root canal therapy is often the treatment of choice to save a tooth that would otherwise die and need to be extracted. Root canal therapy is usually preferred to fix a decay problem because extraction can be much more difficult. Root canals last forever, for the most part, but a tooth with a previous RCT may need to be re-treated on rare occasions.

What Are Signs and Symptoms Indicating a Root Canal May be Necessary?

There are some obvious signs you may need a root canal, but we hope you’ll always defer to our sound assessment when deciding what tooth can be saved and what cannot. Our dentists’ combined experience, training, and education ensure you’re in the very best hands possible should you show any of these signs of problems:

  • An abscess on the gum
  • Hot and cold sensitivity
  • Toothache pain
  • Swelling/tenderness

– An abscess on the gum
– Hot and cold sensitivity
– Toothache pain
– Swelling/tenderness

Sometimes, a tooth in need of a root canal gives no indication of a problem. However, by having twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings, we can spot problems even when they don’t present any signs or symptoms.

A root canal will likely be the best treatment option for you if:

  • The infection has developed inside the tooth or at the tip of the root
  • Decay has reached the tooth pulp
  • Trauma has affected the tooth

– Decay has reached the tooth pulp
– The infection has developed inside the tooth or at the tip of the root
– Trauma has affected the tooth

Root Canal Therapy Process

We are just going to hit the highlights here, and, as always, we encourage you to ask us any questions about a procedure you see on our website.

After the area is numb, a rubber dam is placed around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An access opening is made on top of the tooth, and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening, one at a time, removing the pulp, nerve tissue, and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with our special dental instruments.

Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed. At the next appointment, usually a week or so later, the roots and the inside cavity of the tooth will be filled and sealed with dental materials. A filling will cover the opening on top of the tooth. Teeth with a root canal will have a dental crown (“cap”) placed on top of the tooth to protect it, prevent it from breaking, and restore its full function.

As with all procedures, we will review the steps with you, answer any questions, and provide detailed after-care instructions. We are also always available for any questions you have once you’re home, and we encourage you to contact us via phone or online contact form. We’re happy to go over anything further because we understand it can be an overwhelming experience, especially for those with dental anxiety or dental phobia.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

There are many benefits to salvaging teeth with RCT rather than extracting them:

  • You will experience more natural chewing and biting
  • Endodontics is a cost-effective process compared to tooth replacements like dentures or dental implants
  • The process is virtually painless (once the area has been numbed)
  • Your tooth will look and feel natural following RCT

Contact Us Today

If you’ve been told you need a root canal and have put it off, please call us today at (910) 353-5171. If you have not been to a Jacksonville dentist in a while or your dentist doesn’t do root canals, please call us or fill out our online contact form to request an appointment. Family Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry has three dentists and an excellent dental support staff to serve you, and we look forward to meeting you.