Dealing With Dental Diseases Through Houston Root Canal Treatment

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT, also called endodontic treatment or root canal therapy, is a dental procedure that primarily deals with tooth pulp diseases. The pulp, or nerve, is located in the middle most part of a tooth inside the root canal. It consists of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves. When an infection occurs, the nerve needs to be removed. Pulp removal through root canal treatment is performed to prevent infection. A pulp infection, if left untreated, is usually the cause of tooth decay and eventually tooth loss.

Aside from pulp infection, there are several other cases why root canal therapy is performed. Sometimes, a root canal is needed during or after crown placement and The Tanglewood Center for Aesthetic Dentistry offers Houston root canal treatment with the goal of saving teeth from tooth extraction. Saving a tooth can protect other teeth and even preserve your healthy smile.

TOOTH PULP INFECTION SYMPTOMS

In its early stages, tooth pulp infection may bring no pain at all. However, when it is neglected or remains untreated, the surrounding gums may start to swell, gradually produce pain and may also develop an abscess. You will need the service of Dr. Steven Wolfson for Houston root canal treatment if:

• You feel pain when you bite or touch your tooth
• Your tooth has become sensitive to cold or heat
• You experience swelling around your tooth
• Your tooth is broken or fractured

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PROCEDURE

DURATION & APPOINTMENT: Depending on your case, Houston endodontic treatment can be completed in a few appointments, only one or two in most cases. The location of the tooth can affect the duration of the whole root canal treatment. In some cases, some teeth have several roots while others have curved root canals. In these cases, the root canal procedure will take time and may require more than one visit.

ANESTHESIA: The procedure starts by giving you local anesthesia to numb the part that requires pulp removal. If you feel extremely nervous, you may be given sedation to quickly and painlessly alleviate your anxiety.

MEASUREMENT: To expose the pulp chamber, an access opening is created at the back or at the top your tooth. The diseased pulp will then be removed. Following this step is the measuring of root canals. This is needed in order for Dr. Wolfson to determine the length of the entire canal that requires cleaning and filling.

CLEANING: Once the entire canal has been measured, particular cleaning tools are used to remove the infected pulp. An antiseptic is usually applied for canal cleaning and for preventing it from further infection. It is important for all the canals to be thoroughly cleaned.

FILLING: After the cleaning phase, a temporary filling is applied. This is to cover the top of the tooth until a permanent crown or filling is ready. After the treatment, Dr. Wolfson will give you guidelines on how to protect your tooth and root canals to avoid complications.