Root Canal Therapy in Calgary
The term ‘root canal’ commonly describes the dental treatment of removing a tooth’s pulp, disinfecting the inside of the tooth, and then filling the tooth with restorative material. However, a root canal is actually a chamber inside your tooth where the pulp tissue resides. The treatment is more correctly referred to as root canal therapy, or endodontic therapy.
When is root canal therapy needed?
A cracked tooth or significant decay may result in the pulp of your tooth becoming exposed, allowing bacteria to enter the nerve and cause infection. This can lead to great discomfort, but root canal therapy can be used to remove the infection and prevent it from spreading to surrounding bone and muscle tissues.
Symptoms of an infection in your root canal may include:
- A toothache and pain that’s either constant or spontaneously occurs
- Tooth pain in response to biting pressure
- Tooth pain in response to atmospheric changes (e.g. when on an airplane)
- Tooth pain in response to movement (e.g. running or moving from standing to lying down)
- Swelling around a tooth
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
Though it’s possible these symptoms may result from other issues, we recommended that you contact us so we may diagnose the problem properly.
How does root canal therapy work?
Dr. Wasik will first thoroughly inspect your tooth and discuss your options with you, to ensure root canal therapy is the best option. The treatment begins with local anesthetic, the removal of the infected pulp, and disinfection and shaping of the root canal. The root canal will then be filled with a biocompatible material to replace the pulp, which is typically gutta-percha, a natural rubber.
To complete the treatment, a filling, dental crown or porcelain crown is typically recommended to restore the function of the tooth and prevent further problems.
To learn more about root canal therapy, you may:
