Root Canal Treatment

Treating the Root of the Matter Saves Teeth

I Could Get My Dental Implants & Root Canals Without Anxiety!

Pain-Free Treatment To Alleviate Tooth Pain

About 15 million teeth are saved every year with root canal treatment. A root canal is necessary when the pulp of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. If pulp infection is left untreated, this can cause severe pain and/or lead to an abscess. While the perception that root canals are painful began decades ago, advances in dental technology have resulted in root canals that are no more uncomfortable than having a cavity filled. At Southwest Endodontics & Periodontics, Inc., we strive to change what patients think about root canal treatment by using technologies that enable a painless approach while also alleviating dental anxiety. During a root canal in our Broadview & Macedonia, OH office, our highly skilled endodontist removes the infected pulp and nerve in your tooth root, cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space.

Impacted Oral Anatomy

To understand what happens during a root canal in Broadview & Macedonia, OH, it helps to have basic knowledge of the impacted oral anatomy. The pathway that runs straight down through the root of your tooth that consists of the nerve and blood vessels is known as the root canal. The root canal system includes the pulp chamber and root canal space. In normal teeth, the pulp chamber is located inside the anatomic crown (tooth) beneath the white outer enamel and dentin. The roots are covered in a substance called cementum that helps attach teeth to the surrounding alveolar bone (the bone that supports your teeth) via the periodontal ligament. When the pulp chamber is normal, it resembles the shape of the crown surface. Pulp is the softest layer of the tooth and contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue essential to the production of dentin as the tooth develops. Dentin is the second layer, and is made of calcified, living tissue that continues growing throughout the life of a tooth.

The Out-of-Sight, Essential Tooth Root

A tooth root comprises the lower two-thirds of your tooth and serves to anchor it in position and keep your jawbone healthy. The root canal space is located below the pulp chamber in what is called the radicular portion of the tooth. The end tip of the tooth root is called the apex. Root canals can be round, oval, long oval, flattened or irregular. In most people, incisors, canines and premolars have one root, while molars have two or three, each of which can get infected. Due to the complex branching of nerves, most teeth have an intricate internal anatomy. Endodontists are the right choice to handle your root canal treatment because they have specialized advanced training.

Infected tooth and abcess

Tooth cleaned and shaped

Root filling replaced

Permanent filling or crown placed

Signs You Need a Root Canal

Severe tooth pain
Resolved Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold food or drinks
Pain when biting or chewing
Tooth discoloration
Loosening of the tooth
Swollen, tender or darkened gums
Pimplelike bumps (fistulas) on the gums
Cracked or broken teeth

Underlying Reasons Why You Need a Root Canal

Causes of inflammation or infection in dental pulp include deep decay due to untreated cavities, repeated dental restorations or cracked/chipped teeth. Tooth trauma can result in pulp damage without visible chips or cracks to the enamel. Trauma can also cause nerves and blood vessels to deaden when blood fails to properly flow to these areas. Bacteria from an infection can be carried by the blood vessels deep inside your tooth root. The clinical term for inflammation of the dental pulp is pulpitis. While the principal symptom is pain, diagnosis is based on clinical findings, as well as digital X-rays and pulp vitality tests. Treatment involves removing decay, restoring the damaged tooth, root canal therapy or tooth extraction.

Dedicated to Painless Root Canals

When pulp inside your tooth root becomes infected, the pulp and bacteria must be removed to save your tooth, oral health and overall health. During a root canal in Broadview & Macedonia, OH, our endodontists first numb the treatment site with a local anesthetic. If you suffer from dental anxiety or need additional sedation, we offer diverse sedation options. Either way, you won’t feel any pain, although you may experience slight pressure as we complete the procedure. We drill a small hole in your tooth crown to gain access to the pulp chamber and carefully clean out all the bacteria and infected pulp and tissues. Then we fill and seal the end with a rubberlike material called gutta-percha. Afterward, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling to protect it and restore normal function. We accept many insurance plans and offer third-party financing to ensure your treatment is both painless and affordable.

Advanced Technology Ensures Optimal Outcomes

Advanced technology has significantly improved the accuracy, efficiency, and comfort of root canal treatment, making it a safer and more effective procedure for patients. Here are some examples of advanced technology used in root canal treatment:

Digital X-Rays

Digital x-rays use electronic sensors to capture images of teeth and roots with a reduced amount of radiation exposure compared to traditional x-ray films. It provides high-quality images that allow dentists to detect small fractures or decay hidden in the root canal.

Cone Beam CT Scans

Cone beam CT scans produce three-dimensional images of teeth and jaws, providing dentists with a more detailed view of the root canal system. This technology allows for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Surgical Microscopes

The operating microscope greatly enhances the ability to view the tiniest details inside a patient’s tooth. The microscope helps our endodontists to identify canals that may be hidden or difficult to see with the naked eye. It also helps in locating accessory canals, which are additional canals that may be present in teeth but are not visible without magnification.By magnifying vision up to 25 times that of the naked eye, the dental microscope is useful in both diagnosis and treatment.

Dental Lasers

Dental lasers are used to disinfect and clean the root canal system more effectively than traditional methods. They can remove bacteria, tissue, and debris from the root canal without damaging surrounding tissue, resulting in a faster and more comfortable recovery for patients.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

When our endodontists perform a root canal in Broadview & Macedonia, OH, this will enable you to live a comfortable and functional life free of tooth pain. The benefits of root canal treatment include:

How to Prevent Root Canals

The best way to prevent a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene, avoid hard food that can crack teeth, and protect your teeth when playing sports. Follow these additional precautions:

Brush twice daily
Floss once daily
Avoid biting hard foods (especially with restorations)
Wear a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep
Wear a mouth guard when playing sports
Avoid acidic citrus drinks and sugary soft drinks
Get regular dental checkups and cleanings
Seek immediate treatment for tooth pain

Consequences of Untreated Pulp Inflammation

Infected tooth pulp will not heal on its own, and will only get worse. Although the pain may disappear and you may think the infection has healed, this is actually a signal that the nerves inside your tooth have died. Although the pain subsided, the infection is still present inside your tooth, and the only treatment option other than a root canal is tooth extraction. If you forgo either treatment, a bacterial infection can spread to your jaw, brain, blood, and possibly the rest of your body. The consequences can be serious, and even fatal!

No reason to fear pain-free endodontics in Broadview & Macedonia, OH!

Schedule a painless appointment and save your smile.