Root Canals

Believe it or not, teeth are alive!  Inside each tooth are nerves and blood vessels that run through the tooth’s roots and supply the tooth with nutrients to keep them healthy. 

Unfortunately, sometimes the nerves inside teeth get infected or damaged.  Deep cavities or Trauma are the primary causes of tooth nerve damage.  If this damage or infection is not treated the infection can spread to the surrounding bone and gums leading to the need to extract the tooth and possibly the teeth around it. 

At Grove City Dental we want to make sure we keep our teeth for a lifetime and thus offer the services of doing root canals.

What should I expect for a root canal?

At Grove City Dental, if a patient is getting a root canal, they will be given local anesthetic to numb the mouth but we also offer the comforts of laughing gas as well as conscious sedation if you so desire.

 

A shield is placed over the tooth to keep the area clean and unobstructed.  We then proceed by removing all decay as to not allow more infection to enter the tooth. The procedure is completed by cleaning and disinfecting the chambers where the nerve and vessels run and sealing it all up to prevent further infection from entering the tooth.  The final step is to cover the tooth with a crown or filling

Following a root canal, usually an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen should handle any discomfort that may follow.

When may a root canal treatment be necessary?

A root canal may be necessary when:

  • Acute, spontaneous, or long lasting tooth pain is present
  • Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Tooth with a history of trauma
  • When a tooth is so broken we need to place a post to build it back up
  • Cracked tooth
  • Heavy wear from grinding

If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, Give us a call at Grove City Dental (208) 782-0242 

Tooth nerve damage or decay can quickly spread and cause additional complications, even if no symptoms of pain exist. Through a thorough evaluation Dr. Layton can help you decide what would be best for you in keeping your teeth healthy and present for a lifetime.