If your tooth is infected, Dr. Jee Lee and Dr. Yong Kim may recommend root canal therapy help you regain your oral health and smile. This endodontic treatment can save your tooth from extraction and prevent the need for more extensive care.
What Are Root Canals?
Root canals are dental procedures aimed at saving severely damaged or infected teeth. The central part of a tooth, known as the pulp, can become infected due to deep decay, cracks or trauma. During a root canal, the infected pulp is carefully removed, and the interior of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected. This prevents the spread of infection and allows the tooth to be preserved rather than extracted.
What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment involves several steps to restore the health of an infected tooth. Firstly, our dentists and team will numb the area to ensure a painless procedure. Then, a small opening is made in the tooth to access the infected pulp. The pulp is removed, and the empty space is thoroughly cleaned and shaped. After cleaning, the space is filled with a medicated material to prevent reinfection, and the tooth is sealed. Our dentists will then place a dental crown to restore and protect the treated tooth.
When Is Root Canal Retreatment Necessary?
While root canals have a high success rate, there are cases where retreatment might be needed. If symptoms like pain or infection persist, it could indicate that the initial treatment was not entirely successful. New infections or complications can occur if there is an undetected additional canal, a filling or crown is damaged or the tooth is not healing as expected. Root canal retreatment involves re-cleaning and re-filling the tooth to ensure that the infection is fully eliminated.
Are There Any Alternatives to Root Canal Therapy?
When faced with an infected tooth, the primary alternatives to root canal therapy is a tooth extraction. Extraction may seem like a quick solution, but it can lead to other dental problems and impact your bite. Leaving an infected tooth untreated can also result in pain, abscesses and the spread of infection to other areas, leading to a need for more extensive and costly procedures to correct the problem. It is important to consult with our dentists to discuss all your options, as root canal therapy is often the best way to preserve your natural tooth and maintain oral health.
Schedule An Appointment
Call Dental Group of Anaheim today at 714-635-5500 to schedule an appointment with our skilled dentists and learn more about the benefits of root canal therapy in Anaheim, California.