If you’re suddenly experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity, you may soon need root canal therapy. Michael W. Zacher, DDS, is a board-certified dentist who performs comprehensive root canal treatment at his office in Phoenix, Arizona. A root canal can preserve your oral health if you’re in danger of losing a decayed tooth. To learn more, call today or schedule an appointment online today.
Root canal therapy is a tooth-saving treatment that removes infected pulp. Inside your tooth chamber is a soft material called pulp. While pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, is vital for your early tooth development, you don’t need it once your teeth reach full maturity.
Decay that reaches the pulp can cause severe pain, sensitivity, and infection. A severely infected tooth may even require removal. Leaving the tooth allows the decay to damage your surrounding teeth.
Removing infected tooth pulp and replacing it with a biocompatible material can help save your decayed tooth and prevent the infection from spreading.
You may not know you need a root canal until Dr. Zacher performs a routine dental exam and professional cleaning. Digital X-rays show decay beneath the surface and can help diagnose a tooth infection.
If your decay is advanced, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
Without prompt treatment, a tooth infection may threaten your health and safety. A dental abscess is a serious complication of infected teeth.
This pus-filled bump can form on your tooth root and cause intense pain. If an abscess ruptures in your mouth, it can spread potentially harmful bacteria into your bloodstream, leading to a blood, bone, or brain infection.
Dr. Zacher performs root canal therapy with local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the procedure. After administering the anesthetic, he creates a small access hole in the center of your tooth.
Next, he uses special dental tools to remove the damaged or infected pulp. He makes sure to clean out the tooth chamber to remove any leftover bacteria or debris. Once the chamber is disinfected, he fills it with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha.
Finally, Dr. Zacher seals the access hole and places a filling to protect your tooth from new bacteria. Teeth are typically vulnerable to decay and damage after root canal therapy. Dr. Zacher may recommend placing a crown to provide further protection.
To learn more about root canal therapy, call Michael W. Zacher, DDS, or schedule an appointment online today.