A root canal procedure is an endodontic treatment where our Long Island dentist removes damaged nerve tissue from inside of your abscessed tooth. Oftentimes the nerve becomes compromised when there is a large cavity present that has infected the nerve, causing an abscess. Pain is often associated with the need for a root canal but it isn’t a definite symptom. Antibiotics alone won’t cure a tooth infection. The only way to completely get rid of the abscess is to remove the damaged nerve tissue inside your tooth.
Your root canal procedure does take some time to complete, so when visiting our Suffolk County dentist office for this treatment you will want to plan to be with us for a couple of hours. To help you to better understand why it takes a bit more time then a filling, is a step-by-step guide of what to expect when undergoing a root canal procedure.
Step 1: Local Anesthesia (Numbing Before the Root Canal Procedure)
The very first step in the root canal procedure is to ensure that you won’t feel any discomfort during the treatment. We’ll gently numb the area with plenty of local anesthetic. If at any time during the procedure you experience discomfort, let us know and we can numb the area a bit more. Feeling slight pressure while the dentist is working on your tooth is normal but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Step 2: Tooth Isolation
Throughout the process, we will use some strong medications inside of your tooth. It’s also important to keep the tooth dry and uncontaminated by saliva at all times. So, placing a rubber dam around your tooth will keep the solutions out of your mouth, and prevent the tooth from getting wet.
Step 3: Remove Decay/Access Nerve Canal
Once your tooth is isolated with the rubber dam, we’ll begin to remove any decay that is present. When the cavity is completely gone, we’ll make a small opening in the base of the tooth to access the nerve canal.
A front tooth has one nerve canal. Premolars/bicuspids have one to two, and molars at the back of the mouth have three to four canals.
Step 4: Remove Damaged Nerve Tissue
Each canal has nerve tissue that runs through them, which will need to be removed. To do so, our Long Island dentist has special files that slide into the canal, break up, and remove the tissue. This part of the procedure is often when you’ll feel pressure, if anything 一 but again, no pain should present itself.
Step 5: Rinse and Disinfect the Nerve Canal
A series of solutions will be used to flush the remaining loose nerve tissue out of the canal and disinfect the inside of your tooth. These solutions are often placed in a syringe with an extremely small tip to reach into the canals, so that it can irrigate your tooth. It is not an injection.
Step 6: Dry and Fill Nerve Canal
After the canals have been thoroughly flushed, the next step is to dry them by blowing some air in the canals and using thin absorbent paper points. Once there’s no more moisture in the canals, we’ll fill them in with a special type of sealant material. The sealer will stay there permanently and serve to prevent bacteria from re-entering the canals. Once this step is complete, your root canal procedure is finished.
Step 7: Build Tooth Back Up After a Root Canal Procedure
Though the root canal procedure is over, there is still an opening in your tooth that will need to be built back up with filling material. To do this we’ll place an etchant on your tooth, an adhesive bond, and then the buildup material. Lastly, we’ll place a special light over the area which will harden and dry the material immediately.
Step 8: Prep Tooth For Crown
A tooth that has a root canal doesn’t have blood flowing to it anymore, so it eventually becomes brittle and is prone to wear. We recommend that you have a crown or cap placed over your root-canaled tooth to protect it from breaking.
A crown prep can be done immediately after the root canal is complete, or you can schedule it as a separate procedure later on. To prep your tooth for the crown, our Suffolk County dentist will reduce the thickness of the tooth to ensure that there is enough room for the crown to properly align with your natural teeth. Typically, we’ll take an impression of your prepped tooth which we send to a dental laboratory to have your permanent crown made. We’ll make you a temporary cap to wear in the meantime. A few weeks later you’ll return to the office to have your permanent crown cemented in place.
Preventing Abscessed Teeth
Root canals can often be prevented by ensuring proper oral hygiene, including brushing at least twice per day and flossing once daily. Routine dental visits should include a professional cleaning, x-rays of your teeth, and a thorough oral exam by a dentist, are a great preventive measure as we can intercept problems as early as possible.
While a root canal can get you out of pain, it is possible to have a tooth that is so broken down and infected that it can’t be saved. An x-ray will help us determine if there’s enough healthy structure left to repair everything or if it’s best to have the tooth removed.
Root Canals in Suffolk County
Not all dentists feel comfortable performing root canal procedures because of the detailed work involved. Luckily, the highly skilled providers of Sachem Dental Group have a team of dentists who are experienced in all aspects of dentistry including root canals and crowns.
When visiting our Long Island dental office for the first time, you’ll immediately see why we’ve been the number one dentist for Suffolk County residents for over 35 years. Give us a call to schedule your first consultation today. We look forward to meeting you and taking care of all of your dental needs for years to come.