Root Canals Specialist

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure that restores a tooth with damaged or infected pulp. The pulp is the living tissue inside of your tooth, and when it’s damaged or infected, it causes severe pain and can lead to other oral health complications. Leaving an infected or damaged tooth untreated can lead to tooth loss as well as infection of nearby teeth and tissues.

A root canal’s primary function is to replace the damaged or infected pulp within your tooth while leaving the rest of the tooth relatively untouched. This is a great advancement over the previous method for treating an infected tooth, which was to extract it entirely.

When should I visit my dentist for a root canal?

Some of the indications that you might have an infected or damaged tooth that needs root canal therapy include:

• Severe toothache, either spontaneously or when biting down
• Darkening or discoloration in your tooth
• Pus around your gumline
• An abscess (pimple) on your gums
• Swelling and tenderness in your gums
• Higher sensitivity to hot and cold sensations

However, in some cases, your tooth pulp might be infected or damaged without showing any noticeable symptoms. Because of this, it’s always important to maintain regular dental cleanings and exams with Dr. Kim, who is trained to spot signs of infection or damage in their earliest stages.

What happens during a root canal?

First, Dr. Kim uses a rubber dental dam to isolate your tooth and protect your mouth during the procedure. After numbing your tissues with a local anesthetic, a small hole is drilled in the top of your tooth, through which the damaged or infected pulp is removed.

After Dr. Kim has cleared the diseased pulp from your tooth, it is filled with a compound called gutta-percha, which is similar to rubber. Finally, the hole in the top of your tooth is filled, and you are fitted with a crown to provide extra strength and support.

Is a root canal painful?

Root canals have a bad reputation as being painful procedures, but this is largely exaggerated. Thanks to anesthetics and modern dental tools, a root canal doesn’t feel any more uncomfortable than a traditional dental filling.

Dr. Kim and the team at New City Dental Care take great care to ensure that you stay calm, relaxed, and at ease during your procedure.

Schedule your root canal with New City Dental Care today by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.