Root Canal Treatment

While root canals can be serious problems, their treatment can be quick and comfortable. Our endodontic procedures ensure that your treatment doesn’t cause you more pain, but instead relieves the pain you have. If you or a family member have been told that a root canal treatment is necessary to save a tooth, then you’ll want the finest treatment in PA & NJ.

With dentist offices in Bensalem, PA & NJ, you can get the care you need where it’s most convenient to you. But first, it’s important to understand what will happen during root canal treatment and why this procedure is necessary to save the tooth.

Why Root Canal Treatment?

Millions of teeth are treated and saved through root canal procedures each year. If you have been told that every canal is necessary to save one of your teeth, it is important that you understand why root canal treatment is necessary to remove the infected tissue and restore the health of your tooth.

family dentistry bensalem pa

Root canal treatment (Endodontics) treats disorders of the nerve, also known as the pulp, of the tooth. In the past, the tooth with the diseased or infected nerve had to be the removed. However, in 95% of the cases today, this is no longer true. We believe in saving teeth instead of removing them, while preventing any future problems. We make every effort to help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime!

What makes a root canal necessary?

The following are the most common factors contributing to a need for root canal treatment:

  • Physical irritation caused by decay or a large filling
  • Severe gum disease
  • Trauma, such as at physical blow to a tooth or a constant striking off a tooth in the opposite jaw that traumatizes the tooth

What happens during root canal treatment?

After X-rays and a clinical examination, we’ll determine if root canal treatment is necessary, and schedule an appointment for you. First, we will apply and anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding area. A rubber dam my be used to isolate the tooth, confining the treatment area and protecting the mouth from bacteria and chemical agents. An opening is made to the crown of the tooth into the pulp. Then we carefully remove the diseased pulp, and the root canal area inside your tooth is cleaned, enlarged and shaped.

Depending on the specific case, the root canal and pulp chamber may be permanently filled and sealed. We may also place a temporary medication in the tooth to control bacterial growth and reduce infection.

Throughout the root canal treatment, we take multiple x-rays to ensure that all infected pulp is removed and the walls inside the canal are smooth. To complete the process, the root canal and pulp chamber are permanently filled and sealed.

tooth infection

What care follows the root canal treatment?

Once the root canal treatment has been completed, there are some things you should consider. A root canaled tooth is more brittle than a vital tooth and is more susceptible to fracture. Therefore, in most cases, we recommend that your root canal tooth be crowned or capped following root canal treatment. Although the roots are sealed after root canal, the outer surface is filled with a temporary filling. This is essential to restore the tooth permanently.

Current research has shown that even newly sealed root canals can get contaminated with bacteria if the temporary filling is missing for over 2 weeks OR if the crown is not done within a few weeks of the root canal. The tooth may also fracture or crack without a permanent crown. A final restoration, such as buildup, crown and onlay, will give the tooth its necessary protection.

With the proper Root Canal Treatment, you’ll be back to smiling, biting and chewing pain-free in no time. If you’re experiencing swelling, sensitivity or pressure in your mouth, or sharp pains as you bite, schedule an examination at your local dentist office in Trenton or PA. We’ll restore the health of your natural teeth through a quick and comfortable procedure as part of the best root canal treatment in PA and NJ!

Call Us

Afton Family Dental
1815 S. Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215)462-6229

Schedule Online Appointment

Amazing Smiles By Design
3103 Hulmeville Rd. Suite 205
Bensalem, PA 19020
(215)639-5331

Schedule Online Appointment

Elm Dental Associates
543 White Horse Pike
Hammonton, NJ 08037
(609)561-1121

Advanced Dental Care Of Vernon
40 Rt 94 Vernon Colonial Plaza
Vernon Township, NJ 07428
(973)209-4944

Smiles By Cranbrook Dental
2312 Whitehorse Mercerville Rd #200a
Trenton, NJ 08619
(609)587-0049