Root Canal Therapy

Mill Creek, Washington

Root canal therapy saves millions of teeth every year. Despite the procedure's reputation, it relieves pain rather than causing it and repairs damaged teeth, restoring their form and function. At 360 Dental of Mill Creek, Dr. Punia performs root canal therapy using cutting-edge technology and techniques to provide the outstanding, gentle care you deserve.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Inside each tooth is the pulp chamber, which contains blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. Root canal therapy is an endodontic treatment needed to repair teeth with infected or inflamed pulp resulting from deep decay, dental trauma, tooth cracks, or damaged fillings. The procedure involves the removal of the diseased tooth pulp, which helps eliminate the infection and restores the infected tooth to its healthy and functional state.

What is the Alternative to a Needed Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal therapy is your only option to save a tooth with infected pulp. Left untreated, the infection will continue to progress, posing a risk to your oral and overall health. The only alternative to getting a needed root canal treatment is having the problem tooth extracted, which would likely require a tooth replacement option, such as a dental implant or bridge. Otherwise, the neighboring teeth may shift into the gap, leading to crooked teeth and problems with the bite.

Are You a Candidate for Root Canal Therapy?

Once a tooth's pulp becomes inflamed or infected, root canal therapy becomes necessary. The good news is that the treatment is relatively comfortable, comparable to having a cavity filled.

A tooth pulp infection can cause the following symptoms:

Sensitivity or pain when exposed to cold or hot temperatures
Pain while chewing or biting down
Gum swelling and tenderness
A pimple-like bump on the gum
Tooth chips or cracks
Tooth discoloration

What Are the Benefits of Root Canal Therapy?

The following are some of the benefits of root canal therapy:

Saves natural teeth and restores their function
Reduces the risk of jawbone degeneration
Relieves the pain resulting from having an infected tooth
Stops the infection from spreading to neighboring teeth
Boosts dental aesthetics and oral health

What Is the Root Canal Therapy Procedure?

Before the root canal therapy procedure, we will take dental x-rays to closely examine the damaged tooth and the degree of the infection to ensure that a root canal is the suitable treatment option for your unique case.

Now, let us take you through the procedure step-by-step. First, Dr. Punia will administer local anesthesia to ensure you are comfortable. If you are anxious about your treatment, please let us know. We're happy to offer dental sedation to help you relax while receiving outstanding care.

When you're ready, Dr. Punia will make a small opening in the affected tooth's crown to access and remove the pulp tissues. Next, he will clean and reshape the root canals and fill them with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. The last step is sealing the tooth with a temporary filling to prevent reinfection.

After your root canal treatment, the tooth will become brittle and prone to fracture, which is why we typically create and place a ceramic dental crown. After restoration, your treated tooth will look and function just like a natural tooth. Root canal therapy has over a 96 percent success rate, and with proper care, your restored tooth can last a lifetime!