Restorative Dentistry
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy saves a tooth whose inner nerve and pulp have become inflamed or infected. The damaged tissue is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed, and the tooth is restored so it can keep working for years. Call (248) 645-5222 if you have a painful or sensitive tooth.
Signs
When You Might Need a Root Canal
- A tooth that hurts, especially when you chew
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swollen or tender gums next to one tooth
- A tooth that has turned darker
Causes
What Damages the Pulp
Deep decay
A cavity that reaches the center of the tooth.
Cracked fillings
Gaps let saliva and bacteria reach the pulp.
Chips and fractures
A broken tooth can expose the nerve.
Injury
A blow can damage the pulp even when the tooth looks fine.
Repeated dental work
Several procedures on one tooth can irritate the pulp.
Left untreated, an infected pulp can form an abscess and damage the jawbone around the root.
Step by step
The Root Canal Procedure
- Numb and openAfter reviewing the X-ray, the tooth is numbed and a small opening is made in the top.
- CleanThe inflamed or infected tissue is removed and the canals are cleaned thoroughly.
- Fill and sealThe canals are filled with gutta-percha and sealed to keep bacteria out.
- RestoreA crown is placed so the tooth can function normally.
Afterward
Recovering From a Root Canal
“Will it be sore?”
Some tenderness for a few days is normal and usually eases with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Occasionally an antibiotic or stronger medication is prescribed.
“Can I eat on the tooth?”
Avoid chewing on it until the final crown is in place, or it may crack. Don't delay that final restoration, because bacteria can reinfect the canal.
Questions
Root Canal FAQs
Does a root canal always work?
Most are successful. If one isn't, the options are to repeat the treatment or remove the tooth.
Are there risks?
As with any treatment, complications are possible but uncommon, such as an extra canal that is hard to find or a root that fractures.
Why not just pull the tooth?
Keeping your natural tooth avoids the gap and the shifting that follow an extraction.