Your teeth are some of the strongest bones in your body and are meant to be with you for life. You may dread hearing the words root canal, but it’s a dental procedure that saves you from a tooth extraction. Ryan Zhuoran Zhao, DDS, PhD, and his team at Harmony Smile Dental in Sunnyvale, California, want nothing more than to help you retain your natural smile and offer root canals to restore oral health and help you keep your tooth. For an examination from a kind, gentle, and caring team, call the office today at (408) 738-1000 or request an appointment online.
Root Canals Q & A
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure that repairs and saves a severely decayed or damaged tooth. The “root” portion of your tooth refers to the natural cavity in your tooth that contains the soft pulp and nerves. If your tooth is so severely decayed or damaged that it affects the inner chamber, you’re at greater risk of a more serious infection that can affect the surrounding tissue.
Your tooth doesn’t need the pulp or nerve to survive and removing it to prevent further infection is better for your overall oral health.
Who needs a root canal?
Dr. Zhao determines if you need a root canal after a comprehensive examination. Common reasons a root canal is recommended include:
- Deep cavity
- Frequent dental procedures that damage the inner chamber
- Injured or damaged tooth
- Cracked tooth
If you’re experiencing any tooth pain, swelling, or sensitivity to temperature, you should call Harmony Smile Dental to schedule a visit. These symptoms may indicate that something is wrong with your tooth and a root canal may be needed.
What can I expect during a root canal?
Dr. Zhao and his team use the most cutting-edge techniques to perform your root canal to minimize discomfort and get you the most effective results quickly. Depending on your personal needs, you may only need 1-2 visits to the office to complete your root canal.
During your root canal, Dr. Zhao first numbs the area so you don’t feel any pain during treatment. He then drills a small hole through the enamel of the affected tooth and removes the pulp and nerve, and then cleans and disinfects the chamber of your tooth and fills it with a special dental cement. A temporary filling is placed over your tooth until your permanent crown can be made, which may take a few weeks.
Once your crown is ready, Dr. Zhao has you come back to the office and places your new crown over the treated tooth.
With proper care, your restored tooth can last the rest of your life. Dr. Zhao recommends you brush and floss regularly and come in for your regularly scheduled visits for professional cleanings and checkups.
Tooth pain shouldn’t be ignored. A root canal is a relatively simple procedure that can save your tooth and your oral health. For effective, conservative management of all your dental needs, call Harmony Smile Dental today at (408) 738-1000 or request an appointment online.
Root Canal
Root canal therapy is a very common procedure. It has a reputation of being undesirable and painful. But when done properly it is actually painless. Every tooth in your mouth is composed of a crown and a root. When a cavity or bacteria penetrates the tooth, the root and its nerves become irritated. As a result, the bacteria within the pulp cavity needs to be removed and cleaned in order to restore the tooth to its healthy state. Following the procedure, the tooth is fragile and consequently is restored with the natural crown for a lifetime of durability. Root canals have a success rate of 95% or greater. Most root canal are diagnosed by patients’ sensitivities to a specific tooth. Be sure to consult your dentist any symptoms or discomfort occur.
