Root Canal Treatment

Sudden tooth pain is a telltale sign you may need a root canal, a tooth-saving procedure that can preserve your tooth’s health and function. At DNTL Studio in Upland, California, Prashant Amin, DDS, and Valay Desai, DDS, provide root canal treatment for individuals who have damaged or decayed teeth. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about root canals.

What is root canal treatment?

A root canal is a procedure that can save an infected or deeply decayed tooth from extraction. The treatment involves removing the pulp in the center of your teeth. 

Pulp is a soft tissue that contains small nerves, blood vessels, and other sensitive structures. Critical in your early tooth development, pulp provides the tooth with vital nutrients. 

Your teeth are no longer dependent on pulp once they fully develop. If decay travels through this tissue, it can damage your teeth and spread through your underlying tooth structures. It can even lead to tooth loss. 

Without treatment, a severely damaged tooth may require extraction. If you have an infected tooth, the team at DNTL Studio may recommend removing the pulp through root canal treatment to avoid extraction.

What are signs I need root canal treatment?

Knowing the warning signs of a severely damaged or decayed tooth can help save it. Common signs you need root canal treatment are:

• Pain when chewing
• Throbbing toothache
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Fever
• Facial swelling
• Red, tender, swollen gums
• A small pimple on the gums (abscess)

The warning signs of infection aren’t always obvious at first. The team may discover this damage during your annual teeth cleaning.

What happens during root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment may take more than one appointment. First, the team prepares your tooth by administering a local anesthetic and placing a rubber dam around it. This protects your tooth from saliva during the procedure.

Next, the team creates a small access hole in the center of your damaged tooth. They extract the pulp and remove any nerves, bacteria, and decay to ensure the entire tooth chamber is clean and disinfected. 

Finally, they replace the pulp with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and seal the access hole.

How do I protect my teeth after root canal treatment?

To protect your teeth after root canal treatment, the team may recommend returning for a dental crown. Crowns are tooth-shaped caps that securely fit over the visible portion of your tooth. A crown provides a barrier for your tooth that seals out bacteria and protects against damage.

DNTL Studio strives to improve the patient experience. We use the revolutionary iTero scanner; the industry standard for intraoral scanning. The scanner produces the most detailed 3D scans of any scanner without the discomfort of tranditional impression methods. 

Call DNTL Studio today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about root canal treatment.