What Happens During My Root Canal Procedure

If your Sarasota dentist has recommended a root canal procedure, you may be wondering what will happen while you are undergoing treatment.

A root canal treatment necessitates one or more office visits. It can be performed by your dentist or by an endodontist, a dentist specializing in the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of trauma or diseases of the human tooth pulp or nerve. Depending on the degree of difficulty of your procedure needed, you may choose your regular dentist or seek out a specialist. Your dentist can help you with this decision.

An x-ray is often the first step toward planning your root canal procedure. This allows the accurate visualization of the shape of the root canals and any surrounding infection in the bone or tissue. Once this information is established, you will then receive a local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the affected tooth.

Your dentist will then prepare the space around the tooth with a dental dam (a sheet of thin rubber) around the tooth, shielding it from saliva during the procedure. This allows for a more sterile and safe working space.

During treatment, an access hole is drilled into the tooth, allowing for the removal of tooth pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and any remaining debris. This thorough cleaning is necessary to prevent infection. If you have a severe infection, your dentist may apply medication inside the tooth, or if there is none, your tooth may be sealed immediately with a temporary filling to keep out saliva and food particles until your next appointment.

During the second appointment, the temporary filling is removed and the interior of the tooth is filled with a sealer paste and tooth compound. A permanent filling seals the hole again.

If further restoration is needed due to extensive decay, a dental crown or other dental cosmetic restoration might be needed to prevent further tooth decay, cracking or breaking, and to restore full tooth function. Your dentist will know what additional dental work is needed for you.