Root Canal Specialist

What is a root canal?

A root canal is the most common treatment for an infected tooth. The innermost area of a tooth is a hollow chamber filled with a soft tissue called pulp. Your dental pulp is made of a network of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. When bacteria invades this space, an infection can quickly develop.

Traumatic injury, a chipped or cracked tooth, and repeated dental procedures can all lead to infection. Once your dental pulp becomes infected, your body cannot clear the infection on its own.

A root canal removes all traces of infected dental pulp, seals the chamber, and restores the tooth with a custom dental crown. 

How do I know if I need a root canal?

Knowing what to look for can help you know when to seek treatment for an infected tooth. Some of the signs and symptoms that you may need a root canal include:

• Significant pain when biting or chewing
• Lingering sensitivity to heat or cold, even after the source is removed
• A pimple-like sore on your gums
• Darkened or reddened gums
• Chipped or cracked tooth
• Darkened tooth

If you notice any of these changes, schedule a diagnostic exam right away. An infected tooth can be incredibly painful, but treatment can eliminate all discomfort. 

What happens during root canal treatment?

When you arrive for your root canal, Dr. Faiwiszewski administers an injection of numbing medication to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. He then creates a small access hole to gain access to the inner chamber.

He then uses a series of incredibly tiny tools called files to remove infected pulp from the chamber and the canals that extend down into the tooth roots. The chamber is rinsed to remove all traces of pulp before a special material called gutta percha is used to fill and seal the chamber. 

A small filling is placed to close the access hole. The tooth is then prepared for a custom dental crown. A temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth while you wait for your new crown to arrive. 

Once your crown is ready, you’ll return to have it checked for fit and cemented in place. This completes the root canal process. You’ll simply brush and floss normally, and Dr. Faiwiszewski checks your restoration during all future dental exams. 

If you’d like more information about the root canal process or what to expect, call or click to schedule a one-on-one consultation at your earliest convenience.