Preparing for Root Canal Treatment

If a root canal is in your future, don’t worry. There are ways you can prepare that will make the therapy as comfortable and as successful as possible.

Root canal treatment typically necessitates multiple office visits to your endodontist. The procedure is specifically designed to repair and to save a tooth that is severely decayed or is full of infected tissue. Trauma to the face, repeated dental treatments on a specific tooth, cracks or very large fillings can trigger the need for root canal therapy, as can some genetic conditions or medications that affect tooth enamel.

In the beginning, you will have an x-ray to determine the extent of the damage to the tooth. It will also show the endodontist any infection in the tooth or in the bone that surrounds the tooth.

On the day of the procedure, the area will be numbed and the tooth will be isolated from the surrounding area to keep it clean and dry during treatment. A rubber sheet known as a dental dam will be clipped around the tooth to protect it and the area around it.

Your endodontist will drill into the tooth and remove any infected or decayed tissue, or tooth pulp, flushing and filling the area to prevent any new infection. The tooth will be sealed permanently, either the day of the procedure, or in the case of any lingering infection, at a subsequent visit.

When the tooth is completely healed and the infection is no longer present, the tooth is filled with a rubbery compound and sealed again with paste. If the tooth is very badly decayed, you may also require a dental crown to completely resolve matters.

Talk to your endodontist in Sarasota FL today about your upcoming therapy. You should feel completely informed and comfortable in preparation for your procedure. Don’t be afraid to get answers to all of your root canal treatment questions.