The Three Stages of a Root Canal
If you have a toothache, sensitive teeth, swollen gums, or other signs of tooth decay, you may have an infection caused by bacteria inside your tooth. Our dentist at Dental Care East Hanover might tell you that you need a root canal treatment to eliminate this infection.
The goal of a root canal is to eliminate the infection and make it less likely that it will come back. Root canal treatments can save an infected or badly damaged tooth, so your dentist doesn’t have to pull the tooth out to fix the problem and relieve your pain (which is a much more complex and costly procedure).
Even though we know it’s not ideal to have to go to the dentist more than once, it’s necessary to finish all three stages of root canal treatment and make sure your tooth is completely free of infection. Here are the three steps that will make up your root canal:
Stage 1: Evaluation and First Clean
In this first step, your tooth will be looked at to ensure you need a root canal. Then, the tooth will be cleaned to get rid of the bacteria that are causing the infection.
After our dentist numbs your tooth, they will cut a small hole in the top so that the root canal can be thoroughly cleaned. This will include using antibacterial solutions to rinse and apply medication.
Before moving to stage two, a temporary filling will be placed in your tooth.
Stage 2: Clean-up and Medications
The second part of your root canal treatment may be done the same day as the first part, but it may also be done a week or two later.
At this stage, the root canal is cleaned more thoroughly to get rid of any bacteria that may still be inside the tooth. Our dentist may also take X-rays to check the length of your root canal and make sure that the whole canal is cleaned.
To treat the infection, our dentist will also put medicine on the tooth.
Stage 3: The Filling
Once the root canal is completely free of bacteria and your symptoms have gone away, it’s time to fill it. This usually happens 4-6 weeks after the second stage of your root canal treatment.
Before the root canal is sealed, special rubber points are inserted into the root canals to fill them. Depending on the damage to your tooth and the situation, you may have a temporary filling or a permanent one put in.
Contact Us
If you think you might need a root canal, it’s important not to put off your treatment. A root canal is one of the best ways to treat an infected tooth and get rid of the painful symptoms you’ve been having. Call Dental Care East Hanover to learn more or schedule an appointment by using the link below.
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