Root Canal Treatment
Silverdale, WA
Root Canal Treatment provided by Dr. Kasey Gillespie, DDS
in Silverdale, WA at Life Long Dental
A common dental disorder that requires treatment occurs when infection develops on the inside pulp portion of a tooth. To remove the infection, it is necessary to have a dental procedure known as a root canal performed. Without this restorative dentistry procedure, the tooth will require extraction, your tooth's root cannot heal itself from infection, and the infection will continue to spread to nearby teeth.
The phrase "root canal" often brings feelings of fear; patients assume that the procedure will be painful. In fact, the procedure brings the pain of the infection that is currently raging to the surface, and Dr. Gillespie works to eliminate it. Don't ignore tooth pain. To remove the infection, and the potential damage to neighboring teeth, we would prefer to see you at the first sign of trouble. Our staff at Life Long Dental will work to diagnose the problem and eliminate the source of the infection.
How did the inside of my tooth get infected?
The inside, or pulp, of a tooth, becomes infected when bacteria can find the passage. This can occur in several ways. It takes very little bacteria to cause a considerable problem. Some of the most common ways that bacteria finds passage include:
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Deep Cavity: A cavity that has been allowed to progress can have painful results. If a cavity extends to the inner portion of the tooth, it will infect the pulp causing the considerable patient discomfort. They may feel pain, or sensitivity to hot or cold items. |
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Cracks or Fissures in the tooth: A common dental problem are minuscule cracks in a tooth. This can occur from normal wear and tear, and in many cases, the patient was not aware that they had them. The cracks may be tiny, but it does not require much space for bacteria to find passage. |
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Previous Dental Work: A tooth that has a dental filling, whether it is amalgam or composite, is subject to infection. As the filling hardens it can have a small amount of shrinkage occur, this shrinkage may open up gaps in the tooth that are too small for the patient to be aware of, but that bacteria can seek passage through. |
Root Canal Therapy
To save the tooth from tooth extraction, we need to remove the source of infection. Following your examination, and determination that a root canal is necessary, a local anesthetic will be applied for your needs. This is done in an attempt to reduce any discomfort you may feel. Once numbed, Dr. Gillespie will open the tooth gaining access to the pulp inside. The entire inner portion of the tooth is removed, including the source of the infection. This inner portion material was necessary when the tooth was being developed, but once a tooth is fully grown it no longer is needed. The inside of the tooth will be cleaned with an antibacterial wash, and then the space filled with a medicated rubber. The tooth is then closed with a dental filling, and in most situations Dr. Gillespie will recommend a dental crown. Due to the size of the filling, a dental crown will protect the natural tooth extending its life. Once the dental crown is placed, the tooth is then fully restored. |
