Root Canal Therapy :: a.k.a. Endodontic Treatment

Root canal therapy is a treatment for a tooth that has dead or dying nerve structures. It is necessary to preserve a natural tooth that is undergoing a damaged or dying process. With today's techniques and comfort systems, it can be done quickly, safely, and quite successfully. It relieves pain and is essential in preserving the rest of the tooth.

Endodontic disease can manifest itself with a wide variety and combination of symptoms. Common symptoms include:

• Lingering sensitivity to cold liquids
• Lingering sensitivity to hot liquids
• Sensitivity to sweets
• Pain to biting pressure
• Pain that is referred from a tooth to another area such as the neck, temple, or the ear
• Spontaneous toothache, such as that experienced while reading a magazine, watching television, etc.
• Constant or intermittent pain
• Severe pain
• Throbbing pain
• Pain that may occur in response to atmospheric pressure changes, such as when flying or scuba diving
• Pain that may occur in response to postural changes such as when going from a standing to a reclining position
• Swelling

If you have any of these symptoms, it would be wise to visit us, because you might have root canal disease or another dental problem. Some of these symptoms may also be attributable to decay, defective fillings, systemic diseases, cracked teeth, or other tooth or bite-related problems. On other occasions, the symptoms may even be caused by disorders that are not from the teeth.

Treatment of Root Canal Disease in Our Office

A root canal procedure limits the infection and keeps it from destroying the tooth. During the root canal treatment procedure, Dr. McGregor removes the inflamed or infected tissue, carefully cleans, disinfects, and shapes the space inside the tooth, and then fills and seals this space.

In our office, we think of a root canal as washing the invasive bacteria out of the root, filling it with a bio-compatible material that soothes the area, then sealing it back up again. Top it off with a solid filling or an onlay and you're as good as new. That means you get to keep your tooth, and that's a good thing!

Call 515.965.5999 or 800.373.9389 for your consultation.