Root Canals
Comfortable root canal therapy that relieves pain and saves your natural tooth whenever possible.
Root canal therapy saves infected or abscessed teeth that might otherwise be lost. When the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected due to deep decay, trauma, or repeated dental procedures, a root canal removes the infection, seals the tooth, and restores function. With modern anesthetics and techniques, root canal treatment is comfortable and straightforward, allowing you to keep your natural tooth.
Many patients fear root canal treatment based on outdated information, but modern root canal therapy is actually pain-relieving. The infection causing the tooth pain is removed, providing immediate relief. You'll leave the office with a treated tooth that functions normally and avoids the complications of tooth extraction.
Saving your natural tooth through root canal treatment is almost always preferable to extraction. Keeping your natural tooth preserves your jawbone structure and avoids the need for more complex restorations like implants or bridges.
Request an Appointment
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
Several symptoms indicate you may have an infected tooth requiring root canal treatment. Severe pain when eating or applying pressure to a tooth is a classic sign. Extreme temperature sensitivity, especially to cold, can indicate pulp infection. Tooth discoloration or darkening suggests the tooth is dying and requires treatment.
Swelling, tenderness, or a pimple-like sore on your gums above the affected tooth indicates an abscess. Throbbing or pulsating sensations inside the tooth are also warning signs. Additionally, you may experience referred pain to your ear, jaw, or neck.
Don't wait if you experience these symptoms. Early treatment is more successful and less expensive. Contact us immediately so Dr. Mercado can evaluate your tooth and determine if root canal therapy is needed.
The Root Canal Process
Root canal treatment begins with an examination and X-rays to assess the infection and determine the best approach. We apply local anesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding area, ensuring you're completely comfortable during treatment. Dr. Mercado then opens the tooth, carefully removes the infected pulp tissue using specialized instruments, and thoroughly cleans the root canals.
Once the infection is removed and the canals are cleaned, we fill them with a biocompatible sealing material that prevents reinfection. The tooth is then sealed with a temporary or permanent filling. Most treated teeth require a crown to protect them and restore full function, which can be placed during a follow-up appointment.
Root canal treatment is typically completed in one or two appointments depending on the complexity. After treatment, avoid chewing on the tooth until it's permanently restored with a crown. With proper care and restoration, a treated tooth can function normally for years or a lifetime.
Save Your Tooth with Root Canal Therapy
Schedule an appointment if you're experiencing tooth pain or symptoms of infection.