Three Rivers Family Dentistry provides root canal treatments in Murfreesboro, TN and surrounding areas. Root canals can be a very anxious procedure for a lot of people however we try to make this process and procedure as pain free and quick as we can.
Badly decaying or infected teeth will be treated with a root canal procedure. This involves cleaning away the inner pulp of the tooth, which contains the damaged nerves responsible for any pain you may have been experiencing. From there, the tooth is sealed so no further damage can occur. Although they sound intimidating, root canal treatments are a painless procedure. We assure that you’ll be feeling much better once your damaged tooth has been repaired.
Root Canal Quick Overview
- What is a root canal? “Root canal” is a term to describe a dental procedure that is performed to preserve a tooth that is at risk of being lost due to deep decay, infection, or other forms of trauma.
- “Endodontic therapy” or “root canal treatment” are the dental terms to describe this procedure.
- Root canal treatment is the removal of the infection-prone contents within the tooth and its roots.
- Subsequently, the resulting space is filled with an inert material to prevent infection. This treatment thoroughly disinfects the tooth’s inner space.
- Root canal treatment enables a tooth to remain intact to function and serve its purpose in the mouth despite losing its vitality. Vitality is the tooth’s ability to sense pain, pressure, or temperature.
- Prior to the implementation of root canal treatment, if a tooth had a large cavity or was abscessed, the only option was extraction of the “bad tooth.”
Root Canal Procedure
Our Murfreesboro, TN root canal treatment begins after a proper diagnosis for an ailing tooth. Diagnosis involves a discussion with our patient regarding signs and symptoms. Dental examination, X-rays, and tests are performed in the mouth. Based on all the information gathered, a determination for root canal therapy is made if the tooth 1) has irreversible inflammation of the pulp (pulpitis) or 2) is dying (necrotic).
First, an access hole is made in the tooth with the dental drill. This access hole enables the dentist to reach the pulp chamber and root canals. Next, the pulp contents are removed with a small instrument. Afterwards, the inside of the tooth is thoroughly irrigated with an antimicrobial solution that eliminates infection. Small instruments are used to widen and shape the pulp chamber and canals. Widening and shaping the canals allows for thorough and proper cleansing throughout the tooth. Finally, the properly cleaned and shaped chamber and root canals are filled with a sealer and a warm soft rubber material called “gutta percha.” Once a good seal is achieved with the filling materials, the access hole is closed up with a temporary filling or a dental restorative material such as composite resin.
Next, the occlusion (bite) is checked and adjusted to ensure that no heavy biting from the opposite tooth can occur on the treated tooth. For posterior teeth (bicuspids and molars), root canal-treated teeth require dental crowns. Posterior teeth that have lost vitality are more prone to fracture from chewing and need the added protection of a dental crown. In comparison, anterior teeth (incisors and canines) tend not to bear as much force and usually do not require a dental crown.
