Root Canal Therapy

Saving Teeth with Root Canal Therapy

Root canals sound scary, but here's the truth — they're about saving your tooth, not losing it. And at River Street Dental, we can treat any tooth in your mouth, usually in just one visit.

Why would you need a root canal?

Sometimes, because of deep decay or an injury, the nerve and blood supply inside your tooth (called the pulp) gets infected or dies off. And here's something important: a dead nerve does not mean a dead tooth — your tooth can absolutely be saved.

What happens is this: when the nerve dies, the blood supply goes with it. That means your body can't send white blood cells in to fight the infection. Bacteria move in, multiply quickly, and eventually start spreading into the tiny space between the tooth and jawbone. That's when an abscess can form. Your body tries to fight back, but it can't reach the source of the problem, which is still inside the tooth. A root canal takes care of that source.

You might need a root canal if you're experiencing:

• Pain while biting
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
• Deep decay
• A blunt injury to the tooth
• Infection

What happens during treatment?

Dr. Carroll will start with a thorough exam to find out what's going on. That includes x-rays, a pulp vitality test, and checking the tooth with hot, cold, tapping, and gentle pressure on the gums around it — all to get a clear picture of the health of the nerve.

If a root canal is needed, here's what the treatment looks like:

1. 1Dr. Carroll makes a small opening through the top of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
2. 2The infected pulp is carefully removed, and the root canal space is cleaned, enlarged, and shaped so it can be properly filled.
3. 3A medication is placed inside the pulp chamber and root canal to clear out any remaining bacteria and prevent further infection.

A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth until your next visit — though in many cases, a permanent filling or crown can be started the same day.

Crowns are often recommended after a root canal because the tooth can be more fragile once the pulp is removed. It's just an extra layer of protection to keep your tooth strong for the long haul.

If you have questions — or if something's been bothering you and you're not sure what's going on — just give us a call. We're here to help.