Serving St. Charles, MO
"Where comfort and smiles are always in style"
3820 Elm St. St. Charles, MO 63301
Root canals are performed when a tooth has become significantly infected or inflamed, limiting the infection and stop it from completely destroying the tooth. During the procedure, the dentist will remove all infected tissue, clean, disinfect, and shape the root canal space, and then fill and seal the root canal space.
A complete root canal can take more than one office appointment. Following the root canal procedure, our dentist will place a crown or other restoration to help protect the tooth and restore its function. We often recommend root canals over other dental treatments, such as extractions, because they allow you to keep your tooth, maintaining your natural smile.
To find out if a root canal is necessary, call Elm Dental Care to set up an appointment.
Endodontic disease has a wide variety of symptoms. These can include:
Sensitivity to sweets
Swelling
Ongoing sensitivity to hot and/or cold liquids
Throbbing or severe pain
Pain when you bite
Pain in the temple, neck, or ear, transferred from the tooth
Spontaneous toothaches (not while eating or brushing the teeth)
Intermittent or constant pain
Pain in response to pressure changes (including when SCUBA diving or flying)
Pain when you change postures (for example, from standing to sitting)
Root canals have three main purposes:
Stop the cause of the toothache
Prevent pain and bacteria from spreading into the jaw
Restore the original tooth instead of replacing it
The root canal is a channel that runs from the top of the tooth to the root of the tooth, which is connected to the bone. This canal contains nerves, complex cells, and blood vessels, which all make up the pulp or the tooth’s living tissue.
When teeth become cracked or decayed, bacteria reaches the pulp, causing the pulp to become irritated or inflamed. This process is similar to when other parts of the body become infected. When the pulp becomes inflamed, it becomes harder for your blood to flow to the tissue, resulting in excess pressure. It is this pressure that creates the pain. The root canal procedure will help alleviate this pain.