Root Canal Therapy – Crete, NE
If you have a tooth that is extremely painful, then extensive decay or severe damage may have led to infection. In this case, a root canal becomes necessary in order to save the tooth. During root canal therapy in our Crete, NE dental office, Dr. Rossini removes the infected tissue inside your tooth, seals the tooth and prepares it for a crown. Patients from Crete, NE, Cortland, Hickman, and beyond come to Crete Family Dental for a variety of dental care procedures, including root canal therapy.
Why do I need a root canal?
Root canal therapy, also called endodontic treatment, is required when the cavity within a tooth becomes damaged or infected. This cavity is made up of the pulp chamber and the attached root canals that deliver nutrients to your tooth and eliminate waste through the bloodstream. Without a root canal, the tooth will eventually need to be extracted and the infection can spread.
How do the pulp chamber and root canals become infected?
Normally the inside of your tooth is shielded from harm by the two outer layers: enamel on the outside and dentin in the middle. However, if there is extensive decay or a deep crack that breaks through these protective layers, then bacteria can enter the chamber and canals. Once this happens, infection sets in and the tooth can become quite painful.
Other symptoms of an infected tooth include:
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- A shot of pain when you bite down on the tooth
- Swelling on the side of your face
- A pimple-like sore on the gums near the tooth
What happens during a root canal?
Many people are afraid of having a root canal, but the truth is that this is a far more conservative option than tooth extraction, which must then be followed up with tooth replacement.
During a root canal, Dr. Rossini drills a small hole in the tooth in order to remove the contents of the pulp chamber and root canals. Once emptied, the hollow space is disinfected, sterilized and filled with gutta-percha, an inert substance that prevents re-infection. The chamber is sealed and your tooth is prepared to eventually have a dental crown.
Dr. Rossini may prescribe an oral antibiotic to further treat the infection. In addition, if there is any discomfort after your root canal, then ibuprofen or acetaminophen should suffice.
In a couple of weeks, you’ll return to Crete Family Dental to have Dr. Rossini place a porcelain crown over your tooth. Now that you’ve had a root canal and the tooth is structurally protected and preserved with the crown, your previously infected tooth will look and function normally.