A root canal is an outpatient procedure that removes the infected or inflamed pulp from the center of a tooth. Pulp nourishes your teeth; it’s made of nerves and connective tissue but isn’t necessary for their long-term survival.
By removing the pulp and replacing it with gutta-percha, your Tukwila Dental Smiles provider can ease the pain and prevent the infection from spreading. What’s more, the procedure occurs under anesthesia, so it’s virtually pain-free.
At Tukwila Dental Smiles, the team performs root canal therapy to treat tooth pulp that’s injured or infected. Common causes of injury and infection to the pulp include:
If you experience persistent tooth pain, swelling, or a sensation of heat in your gums, contact the team at Tukwila Dental Smiles right away.
At Tukwila Dental Smiles, getting a root canal takes two visits.
Before your provider does a root canal, they order a series of oral X-rays and assess your tooth. If the X-rays detect infection or inflammation, your provider numbs your mouth and removes the pulp from your tooth.
Your provider cleans out your tooth and fills it with a material called gutta-percha. When the gutta-percha dries, your provider takes impressions of your tooth and covers it with a temporary crown.
Following your first appointment, the team at Tukwila Dental Smiles sends your impressions to a dental laboratory that creates a custom dental crown.
When the dental lab completes your custom crown, you return to Tukwila Dental Smiles. Your provider replaces your temporary crown with the permanent one and provides care instructions.
After a root canal, it’s normal to experience mild swelling and increased tooth sensitivity. In the day following your procedure, the team recommends:
Any discomfort should subside within a day or two; however, if your symptoms persist or get worse, contact the team at Tukwila Dental Smiles right away.
To see if you can benefit from a root canal, make an appointment at Tukwila Dental Smiles by calling the office, or clicking the online booking feature today.