Root Canals

What is an endodontist?

An endodontist is a dentist who has undergone an additional two years of advanced training after dental school to specialize in treating the inner structures of your tooth. The team at Union Square Dental includes a board-certified endodontist who provides excellent root canals when needed. The team can perform both routine and more complex root canal procedures right in the practice’s state-of-the-art offices, eliminating the need for you to find a referral and travel across town.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure your endodontist performs to treat damaged or infected tooth pulp. Your pulp is the soft tissue that makes up the inside of your tooth. It’s composed of blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerve fibers, making it particularly sensitive and incredibly painful when it’s infected or damaged.

Root canals are technologically advanced procedures. In the past, the only way to treat a tooth with damaged or infected pulp was to extract it entirely. With a root canal, your dentist can keep more of your natural tooth structures intact while restoring your oral health.

Do I need a root canal?

Some of the signs that you might have infected or damaged tooth pulp include:

• Severe toothache
• Discoloration in your tooth
• Swollen, tender, or inflamed gums
• Abscess, or a small pimple on your gums near your tooth root
• Pus around your gumline

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with Union Square Dental immediately to receive treatment.

Do root canals hurt?

Root canals have a reputation as being a painful procedure, but that’s a reputation largely undeserved. A root canal actually eases your pain because it treats your infected or damaged tooth.

Your tooth is anesthetized during the procedure so that you won’t feel any pain or discomfort in your treatment. The team at Union Square Dental takes every measure to ensure that your root canal is as comfortable as possible.

What happens during a root canal?

Your endodontist creates an access point at the top of your tooth by drilling a small hole. Then, they use a series of files to remove your damaged or decayed tooth pulp through the access hole.

Once they’ve gotten rid of all the damaged pulp, they use special instruments to clean and sterilize the inside of your tooth. Next, the empty space is filled with a rubbery material called gutta-percha, which helps to protect your tooth from future infections. In some instances, a small post is placed inside your tooth to reinforce its structural integrity. Then, the access hole is filled, and a permanent crown placed on top of your tooth.

To see if you need a root canal, request an appointment at Union Square Dental by phone or online today.