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Root Canals

A Root canal doesn’t have to hurt or scare you. At our office, we assure you that the root canal procedure is carried comfortably and gently with minimum pressure on our patients. Our dentists recommend a root canal when the tooth is either infected or there is severe damage to the pulp (nerve tissue inside the root). The ultimate goal of a root canal is to keep the tissue around the tooth’s root healthy despite the fact that the tooth’s nerve has undergone degenerative changes.  If left untreated, an inflamed pulp can cause a tooth to die, and then it may have to be extracted, weakening the jawbone and the foundation of surrounding teeth. A patient who loses a tooth will usually have to undergo more extensive and costly restorative work.

A Root Canal Keeps the surrounding gum tissue healthy
Our dentists use the root canal procedures to make an infected tooth as healthy as possible by first cleaning out the unhealthy portions of the tooth, including the surrounding gum tissue, and then sealing the tooth so the infection will not re-occur. The process starts by removing all bacteria-infected nerve tissue, organic debris left over from the breakdown of nerve tissue, and bacterial toxins from within the inner aspects of a tooth (the area originally occupied by the tooth’s nerve tissue). Each of these items can produce tissue irritants that can cause your body to activate an inflammation reaction.

Once this space has been cleansed our dentists will fill in and seal the interior of the tooth with a flexible plastic material called gutta-percha.  This aspect of the treatment is an attempt to minimize the possibility that bacteria will be able to re-colonize the inner aspects of the tooth or that tissue fluid can seep into the tooth, become stagnant, and subsequently break down.  The seal also contains and encapsulates any debris that could not be fully removed during the cleaning aspect of the root canal treatment process so that it can’t leak out and trigger an inflammation reaction.  Once the tooth is cleaned and sealed it usually receives a dental crown to maintain the structural integrity of the tooth.

How do I know if I am a candidate for a Root Canal?
Presutti, Derosa, and Booth Family Dentistry help dental patients throughout the Ohio Valley to achieve optimal oral health through Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry, regular checkups, and cleanings. Call our office today at (740) 695-5400 to schedule an appointment if you are feeling any sort of pain or gum inflammation. Our dentists will examine your tooth and explain the finer points of root canals.

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Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest about our services.