February 8, 2022
Teeth are more than what we see everyday. Lurking inside each pearly white is soft tissue known as pulp. Your pulp consists of blood vessels and nerves. Root canals become necessary when the pulp is invaded by bacteria or can’t heal on its own.
Root canal treatment gets rid of infected or injured pulp and relieves pain. From here on, we’ll just call this treatment a “root canal”.
It’s a multi-step procedure that typically involves:
It’s really important to protect the tooth following a root canal. Removing the pulp gets rid of blood supply (a source of moisture), making the tooth brittle that can crack off when you least suspect it. So, to protect the tooth, you’ll want to put a crown on it.
Root canals are done on decayed, infected or traumatized teeth. When a tooth is infected, the body’s immune system can’t function properly due to the tooth’s confined space. This causes one of our least favorite sensations, a tooth ache. Removing pulp and bacteria, via root canal treatment gets rid of decay, eases pain, and allows the body to heal.
You may need a root canal if you have one or more of the following:
If you’re not sure, then contact us at Wapiti Dental in Grande Prairie and we’d be happy to check it out.
Delaying root canal therapy is never a good idea. Never. It can cause issues like:
In extreme cases, an infected tooth can even lead to life threatening conditions like Ludwig’s Angina.
Nope. This is a misconception.
Antibiotics can target the tissue supporting structure around the tooth but not the tooth itself. The source of the infection within the tooth must be removed to treat the infection. This means removing parts of the tooth and the infected pulp – antibiotics don’t treat the source of the problem.
Nope – we’ll freeze around your tooth, which can actually provide some immediate pain relief. Some people hate needles and can’t stand the dentist. There will be some initial pain when freezing, but we do our best to reduce pain and maximize comfort for our Grande Prairie and Peace Region patients.
After freezing the area, we’ll apply a rubber dam and then follow these steps:
A small hole is drilled on top of the tooth to access the root. The drilled hole (cavity) is further shaped to remove decay and hold the filling material.
Specially designed instruments are used to remove the infected pulp and clean the canals. Irrigation of the root canal is done to clean and remove infected tissue. Canals are then shaped with files so that they can be sealed and filled. Sometimes a temporary filling will be put on the tooth.
After proper cleaning and shaping, the canals are sealed and filled.
It is recommended that a crown be the final restoration on a root canal treated tooth. The crown completely covers the tooth preventing the remaining brittle tooth from breaking. Wapiti Dental is equipped with the latest technology and equipment, allowing us to offer same day crowns in Grande Prairie which reduces discomfort and time at the dentist.
You can brush and floss your teeth like normal, but maybe wait until the freezing has worn off so that you don’t accidentally bite your tongue or cheeks!
Eat soft foods on the day of your root canal therapy. Make sure that you don’t chew on hard, crunchy, or sticky foods such as nuts, pretzels, chips, and candies for 24 hours after the procedure.
If your root canal takes more than one appointment then make sure to attend the follow-up appointment on time. If you think that your temporary restoration will last a long time, think again. Temporary fillings can fall out and your tooth could crack. Removing cracked teeth is not fun so just come to your follow up appointments and get your tooth taken care of.
Contact your dentist immediately if you notice any of the following:
Some swelling is normal, but if it lasts more than three days then there could be a problem and you should reach out to us.
We always recommend a crown after a root canal. The benefits include:
At Wapiti Dental in Grande Prairie we offer same day crowns. This means that you can have your root canal treatment done and a crown placed on the same day. This makes for a very long appointment so unless you live out of town, it’s recommended to place the crown another day.
With proper care, teeth with root canals can last a long time. The long-term success of root canal treatment depends on many factors including:
It’s hard to accurately predict how long your root canal will last because there are so many factors involved. If you experience any problems with a tooth, you should see us as soon as possible. Delaying diagnosis and treatment can cause unnecessary pain and be detrimental to your smile.
Private insurance companies may offer partial to full coverage. When you come to Wapiti Dental we will send a pre-authorization to your insurance company before treatment so that you know exactly how much of your treatment is covered.
We have the training and experience to offer successful root canals at Wapiti Dental. In more complex cases, we may refer you to an endodontist or an oral surgeon.
Prevention is better than cure – it’s always best to avoid the need for a root canal. You can prevent it by:
The only alternative to a root canal procedure is tooth extraction which then needs a replacement by a bridge, implant, or partial dentures to restore functionality.
Extraction may seem a cheap option at first, but in the long run, you will have to pay more for the replacement of the extracted tooth. Bridges and implants are much more expensive.
Saving your tooth is always, always preferable over a tooth extraction.
If you are experiencing a toothache and looking for a dentist in Grande Prairie, you should contact Wapiti Dental. We’re happy to offer a great dental experience!
It’s true that you have a genetic contribution to the symmetry and color of your teeth. But the health of your teeth is greatly determined by how well you take care of them.