Step 1: We start with CBCT scans to evaluate the affected tooth and its intricate structures. The state-of-the-art technology captures incredibly detailed 3D images of your teeth, sinuses, jaw, and surrounding structures. That helps us assess your root canals and uncover any unusual anatomy. It also helps guide treatment planning, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
Step 2: We will numb the area for your comfort and administer dental sedation, if needed, to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed during the procedure. Next, we will remove the infected pulp tissues, shape the root canals, clean the area, and place a material known as gutta-percha to prevent further infection. We will seal the area using a temporary filling.
Step 3: After a root canal treatment, the tooth can become brittle and weak, which is why we typically recommend placing a restoration like a dental crown for protection. Your treated tooth will look, feel, and function like a natural tooth.
- Relieves Pain: Most pain associated with root canal therapy results from the tooth pulp infection. The procedure helps remove the source of pain, relieving your discomfort.
- Preserves Your Natural Teeth: At Mountain West Dental Care, we are proponents of maintaining natural teeth whenever possible. Root canal therapy is often the best option to save damaged teeth, restoring their form, function, and natural appearance.
- Eliminates Tooth Sensitivity: Everyone enjoys a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day or an ice-cold drink when the temperatures soar, but infected teeth can make that painful. Root canal therapy relieves tooth sensitivity, allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods without worry or pain.
- Prevents Further Damage: If not treated, the infection in a tooth can spread to the neighboring teeth and even enter the bloodstream, posing a risk to your health. Root canal therapy addresses the source of infection, preventing a host of complications.
- Highly Successful: Root canal therapy is highly predictable, with a high success rate. The treated tooth will mimic the appearance and function of a natural tooth and, with proper care and maintenance, can continue to enhance your smile for many years to come.