Root Canal Therapy Helps Castle Rock Regain Optimal Oral Health
Endodontics is the dental specialty that focuses on treating diseases of the inside of the tooth. Root canal therapy is the most commonly performed endodontic treatment; other endodontic treatments include endodontic retreatment when a root canal therapy procedure has failed. Luckily, root canal therapy is typically successful at treating problems with severe decay and infected pulp. Because we're committed to offering a wide variety of dental care treatments, Cowlitz River Dental offers quality endodontic care like root canal therapy to help you return your smile to great health when damage has occurred.
Why would you need root canal therapy?
When a cavity has become very large, it might break through all the layers of your tooth and open up the root canal to exposure. The root canal is where the pulp of your tooth resides. This pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, and this is what keeps a tooth "alive." When it becomes exposed, it will increase tooth sensitivity and possibly lead to infection, which can turn into an abscess and threaten your ability to keep the tooth if untreated. Root canal therapy is a way to avoid having an infected tooth extracted.
How does root canal treatment work?
Root canal therapy involves Dr. Kennington removing damaged pulp from the tooth and thoroughly cleaning out the root canals. We'll fill the canals with a special material and cap the tooth with a crown. Many patients worry that root canal therapy will be uncomfortable, but the procedure is actually relatively simple. By using modern techniques, we can make the entire process more comfortable than you'd expect. Many of our patients, in fact, are able to relax so completely that they fall asleep during their root canal procedure. Also, endodontic treatment can help you avoid the extra expense and treatment that comes from having a tooth removed.
The signs that you may need root canal therapy include a noticeable increase in sensitivity and chronic tooth pain. As an infection progresses, you might see swelling in the face and neck as well. If you feel pain or sensitivity, visit our Castle Rock, Washington dental office.
Cowlitz River Dental offers root canal therapy as part of our wide variety of dental care services for Castle Rock, Washington. Patients come to us from various southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon communities because we offer so many services. Contact Cowlitz River Dental today!