Understanding Root Canal Therapy

Welcome to Complete Dental Care! Dr. T.J. Scarborough and Dr. Nick Sampalis provide top-quality care to our patients. We understand that tooth pain can be unbearable and how important it is to save your natural teeth. We ensure comfortable and painless treatments. From root canal therapy to dental implants in Kellogg, ID, and Spokane, WA, we offer a range of solutions to meet your needs. In this blog post, we’ll closely examine root canal therapy and how it works at our Kellogg and Spokane facilities. 

Our office has a comfortable and relaxing environment for your visit. We want to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and experience the difference in our endodontic care.

How Root Canal Therapy Can Save Your Tooth

Are you experiencing tooth pain? Do you notice swelling or tenderness in your gums? These could be symptoms of a tooth infection that may require root canal therapy. Don’t worry about the procedure! At Complete Dental Care, we’ve performed numerous root canal treatments, and we want you to know that it’s a routine procedure that can save your tooth and relieve you of the pain. 

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is a dental procedure that aims to save a damaged or infected tooth by removing the infected or inflamed pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the canals, and shaping the canals to prepare them for the filling. The pulp is the soft tissue in the tooth’s center containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.

Why do you Need Root Canal Therapy?

When the pulp has damage or an infection, it usually causes pain and discomfort. It may also cause swelling, tenderness, or even pus drainage from the gum. The damage to the pulp can occur due to deep decay, a chip or crack in the tooth, or even repeated dental procedures that leave the tooth weak. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other teeth and lead to bone loss around the root tip.

What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?

The first step in root canal therapy is to examine the tooth and take an X-ray to determine the extent of the damage. The dentist will then numb the area around the tooth and create an opening through the crown to reach the pulp chamber. Using small instruments, Dr. Scarborough or Dr. Sampalis will remove the infected tissue from the canals and shape it to prepare it for filling. We will clean and disinfect the interior channels to remove any bacteria that may cause another infection. Once the channels are clean, we will fill them with a material known as gutta-percha and seal the opening with a filling or crown.

Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?

Root canal therapy is known for being painful, but that’s not necessarily true! Thanks to modern anesthesia, the procedure is typically not painful, and most patients report feeling only slight discomfort. After the procedure, you may experience some soreness and sensitivity for a few days, but you can manage that with over-the-counter pain medication.

And despite any discomfort, the benefits of this procedure can significantly improve your oral health and quality of life. In addition to preventing the spread of infection and reducing pain and discomfort, root canal therapy preserves the natural tooth, allowing you to continue eating and speaking with ease. 

Root Canal Therapy in Kellogg and Spokane

Root canal therapy is a routine dental procedure that can save an infected or damaged tooth and relieve pain. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, make an appointment with us today at our Kellogg or Spokane location and we’ll be happy to help! At Complete Dental Care, we provide personalized root canal therapy to your needs so that you can be assured of a comfortable and stress-free experience.