Seattle Oral Care | Root Canal Service

A root canal is an accessible treatment for people with toothaches or other dental problems caused by dental decay or infection. If left untreated, it can spread to the rest of your teeth or even reach the nerve endings in your jaw and cheek area.

The good news? You don’t need to be afraid of root canals! It’s a common and fast treatment that will get you back to normal in no time! If you have any pain or discomfort due to bacteria-infected roots, we recommend getting a root canal right away!

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal happens when bacteria gets into your tooth’s canals or the hollow tubes that run through your teeth. If left untreated, tooth decay or infection can spread to the rest of your teeth or even reach the nerve endings in your jaw and cheek area.

A root canal procedure cleans out the canals and removes the damaged or infected pulp inside the tooth—the soft tissue inside the tooth. The root canal procedure is also called "endodontic" or "endodontic therapy."

Why Get a Root Canal?

If you experience a toothache or notice swelling or redness in the area around your tooth, get it checked out by a dentist as soon as possible to avoid a root canal. A root canal is sometimes necessary when dental decay or infection, such as gum disease, gets inside the tooth and damages the pulp inside, which is where the tooth’s nerves are.

These canals are the hollow spaces inside your teeth where the blood vessels and nerves are located, along with the tooth’s hard dental pulp. A dentist can clean the canals and remove the infected pulp with a root canal.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

Your dentist from Seattle Oral Care will perform a root canal by cleaning the canals and removing the damaged or infected pulp inside the tooth. They will then fill the cleaned-out tooth canals and the tooth pulp with sealants and bacteria-killing medication and place a unique dental crown to protect the tooth.

The first step in a root canal is numbing the tooth and the surrounding area, such as the gums. Your dentist may use a local anesthetic, a shot of numbing medicine directly into your gums, or a combination of both. Next, your dentist will use instruments, such as a small dental drill or a scaler, to open the tooth’s canals.

This is when they will remove the decayed or infected tissue and clean the canals.

Advantages of a Root Canal

A root canal is a dental treatment that can help to relieve the pain and discomfort of a root canal infection. Not only does a root canal help to relieve pain, but it also helps to clean out the infected root canal and restore proper function to the tooth. Another advantage of having a root canal is that it can save you from having the tooth extracted. 

FAQs

How painful is a root canal?

Root canal pain is nothing to be scared of, despite the fact that it can indeed be quite painful. Typically, the pain is localized in one area of the root, and it tends to get worse with time. Your dentist will numb the tooth and then use a special instrument called a bur to remove the decay or infection causing the problem.

They may also drill into the tooth to remove any remaining infection. After treatment, you’ll feel incredibly relieved.

Is a root canal worth the cost?

A root canal is a dental procedure that removes bacteria from around the root of a tooth using an instrument called a root canal sealer. Root canals are often recommended for people with very bad tooth decay, and they're definitely worth the cost.

Do root canals weaken teeth?

When done properly, a root canal will prevent further tooth decay, but it has some potential side effects. It can weaken the tooth if the material used to seal the canal is not strong enough. A root that has been weakened is more likely to be hurt by bacteria in the future, which can lead to more decay.

The Seattle Oral Care Difference

Our Patient First concept at Seattle Oral Care means that we listen to and understand your condition, educate you on other solutions, and treat your concerns for a happy and healthy you.

We also want to ensure that each customer has a positive experience throughout the process. We treat each customer like family and go out of our way to guarantee they are satisfied with the outcome. To improve your quality of life, we pay attention to the whole process, from the first visit to the care you get after treatment.

If you're ready to smile with confidence, give us a call now to set up an appointment!