Root Canal Therapy in Whitby

Dundas Street Dental Centre is one of Whitby's leading providers of root canal therapy. Many years ago, the only way to deal with damaged teeth was to extract the entire tooth. But new advances in dentistry have allowed us to save teeth.

Non-surgical Root canal therapy, also known as endodontics, is the process of removing damaged pulp. Dental pulp is the tooth’s blood and nerve supply. It contains all the vessels and connective tissue that keep the tooth healthy. When this pulp becomes inflamed, an infection will build up inside the tooth.

Dental pulp can become irritated, inflamed or infected for a number of reasons. They include but are not limited to deep-rooted decay and trauma to the face. If left untreated, this infection can spread -- causing severe pain and dental disease.

What to expect during your Root Canal Treatment?

Non-surgical Root canal therapy may seem overwhelming, but it is one of the most effective treatments available today. At Dundas Street Dental Centre, we can usually complete the procedure in one appointment.

Here are the steps involved during root canal surgery:

• X-rays are taken to observe the shape of the root, and determine if there is any infection in the surrounding bones
• Local anesthesia is used to numb the area around the tooth
• A rubber dam is placed around the tooth to keep the area dry from saliva during treatment
• An access hole is drilled through the tooth, so the pulp and decayed nerve tissue can be removed
• Thin files are placed in the access hole to clean and shape the walls of the root canal
• A radiograph is taken to verify the canals are cleaned and shaped to the apex. ,
• Once everything is verified the canals are cleaned to the end, it’s sealed and filled using a paste and rubber compound called ‘gutta percha’

Following a non-surgical root canal therapy, further restoration of the tooth may be required. Because the tooth had most likely suffered severe decay, a crown or filling is often necessary to protect it and prevent future breakage and leakage. Our Whitby dental team will discuss additional dental work should you need it following endodontic therapy.

Root Canal Post-Procedure Instructions

You may experience tenderness in the tooth for about a week. On a rare occasion the discomfort may last up to two months, but severe pain is not common. Our Whitby dental team will send you home with instructions for pain management, and how to care for your tooth during the recovery phase.

Wait until the numbness in your mouth wears off before eating. And remember to brush and floss daily as you normally would to keep the area clean.

Dundas Street Dental Centre offers non-surgical root canal therapy in a safe and comfortable environment in Whitby. You can have confidence knowing we have the expertise to successfully carry out this procedure. To determine whether you require endodontic therapy, a full dental examination will be required.

There are warning signs that could indicate this procedure is necessary:

• Ongoing pain, even after a cleaning
• Tooth is painful to the touch
• Severe sensitivity to hot and cold
• Sudden discolouration, especially in one tooth
• Abnormal swelling or drainage around a specific tooth

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, visit our team of friendly dentists right away. At Dundas Street Dental Centre, it would be our pleasure to provide you with the high-quality care your teeth deserve.

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