Call the Root Canal Treatment Specialists in Grandville, MI and Stop the Pain Today!
When you think about a root canal treatment, you may picture a painful dental procedure, but actually it’s very similar to having a cavity filled, with minimal pain and discomfort.
Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp from the central part of the tooth, shapes the pulp space, and fills it with a resin sealer to keep bacteria from re-infiltrating it.
In fact, the procedure has more than a 95% success rate.
Call the root canal specialist! Dr. Doug Klein and the friendly team at his dentist office in Grandville, MI are ready to make the process easy.
When is Root Canal Treatment Necessary?
There are a number of reasons why a root canal is performed, including:
- Inflamed/infected tooth pulp
- Extreme pain to hot and cold elements
- Severe decay of the tooth
- Severely chipped or broken tooth
- Injury to the tooth
- Multiple dental procedures on a tooth
When a tooth becomes infected there are only two options to remedy it: removing the entire tooth or removing the infected pulp. Once the infected pulp has been removed, the tooth can be restored back to ideal form, function and esthetics.
Without treatment, the infection can become severe enough that the tooth has to be removed, and can even be life-threatening. When the damage goes beyond what can be treated with a standard tooth filling, a root canal is performed to preserve the tooth and retain its original integrity.
How Is A Root Canal Performed?
The root canal treatment is generally four steps and often requires two office visits.
First, a local anesthesia is used to numb the tooth. After the tooth is numb, Dr. Klein will most often place a dental dam, which is a small sheet of rubber that isolates the tooth to keep it clean and dry during the procedure.
Then, a small hole will then be drilled into the tooth to allow access to the pulp. small files are used to remove the pulp tissue, to shape the inner chamber of the tooth and root. After cleaning and shaping, the tooth is irrigated with solutions that kill all bacteria and break down any remaining tissue.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried, it is sealed. A natural rubber-like material called gutta percha is set, and the opening in your tooth will be closed with a temporary filling while you wait for the permanent crown.
A few weeks later, Dr. Klein will finish the treatment by placing a permanent crown or a similar type of restoration on the top of the tooth. To make the crown or restoration more stable, he may also need to place a small supporting post inside of the root chamber.
Caring For Your Root Canal After The Procedure
The root canal therapy should relieve the pain you feel. It’s advised that patients minimize chewing on the tooth under repair until the permanent filling and crown are in place. This will help avoid re-contaminating the tooth’s interior and also may prevent a fragile tooth from breaking before the tooth can be fully restored.
For a couple days after the procedure, the area around the tooth may feel sensitive due to natural tissue inflammation, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. However, most patients resume normal activities the next day.
It’s also important to brush and floss as you regularly would, and see the Klein Dentistry team at normally scheduled intervals. With proper care and attention, many teeth treated with root canal therapy can last a lifetime.
The Klein Dentistry
Difference
The difference is careful, intricate planning for the individual needs of each patient.
Our teams work hard to build trust, and each patient is presented with every option available, along with the pros and cons of each. We take our time to be sure that everything is clearly explained so patients can make the best decision for them.
