Root Canal Treatment
A root canal is a dental procedure used to treat infection or damage to the pulp of a tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, it can cause severe pain and lead to further complications if not treated promptly.
The Root Canal Procedure
The process of getting root canal therapy near you generally involves several steps. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect during your visit:
- Initial Visit: During the initial consultation, your dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your tooth and take X-rays to assess the extent of the infection or damage. This step is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment plan.
- Numbing: To ensure your comfort during the procedure, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the affected area. You will remain awake, but you won’t feel any pain during the treatment.
- Tooth Isolation: The dentist will place a rubber dam around the tooth to keep it dry and free from saliva. This isolation helps maintain a clean working area.
- Accessing the Pulp: Next, the dentist will create an opening in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp chamber and root canals. This step allows the dentist to remove the infected or damaged pulp.
- Cleaning and Shaping: Using specialized tools, the dentist will clean the pulp chamber and root canals thoroughly. This process removes any debris and bacteria. After cleaning, the canals are shaped to prepare for filling.
Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Choosing root canal therapy at Oxford Smiles, Marlborough offers several benefits:
- Pain Relief: The procedure alleviates the pain associated with infected pulp.
- Tooth Preservation: Saving your natural tooth prevents the need for extraction.
- Improved Oral Health: Treating the infection enhances overall oral health.
- Long-Term Solution: With proper care, a treated tooth can last a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Root canal treatment has an undeserved reputation for pain. With modern anesthesia and technique, the procedure itself is no more painful than a routine filling. The pain patients associate with root canals is actually the severe toothache that necessitates treatment - which the root canal relieves, not causes.
Symptoms suggesting root canal infection include: a persistent throbbing toothache, pain that wakes you at night, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, a pimple-like bump on the gum, and dark discoloration of the tooth. Only X-rays and clinical testing can confirm diagnosis - see Dr. Mehta promptly if you experience these signs.
Most single-rooted front teeth are treated in 60–90 minutes. Multi-rooted back teeth may require 90–120 minutes or two appointments. The canal is cleaned, shaped, and filled in one or two visits, followed by crown placement to protect the tooth long-term.
Yes - with proper restoration and care. A root canal cleans the infected pulp; the tooth's shell remains functional. Placement of a crown (recommended for all back teeth) protects the brittle, non-vital tooth from fracture. Root canal-treated teeth restored with crowns routinely last decades.
An untreated pulp infection progresses to an abscess - a pus-filled pocket at the root tip. The infection can spread to the jaw, neck, and rarely the brain or airstream, causing a life-threatening emergency. Tooth loss is also inevitable without treatment. Root canal is almost always preferable to extraction.
Flexible Financing & Insurance options
We strive to make dental care affordable and accessible for all our patients. That's why we accept most major insurances, and will work with you to help you understand your plan and maximize your benefits. If you have questions about insurance, or anything at all, give us a call to speak with one of our friendly insurance experts. Don't see your insurance listed? Give us a call on (508) 290-8714, and we'll walk you through all your options!
No Insurance? No Problem.
Flexible financing & membership plans available
We offer Quality Membership Plans along with flexible financing options through LendingClub, Sunbit, and CareCredit. Quality dental care is an investment in your health and happiness and we believe the cost of treatment should never stand in the way of your ideal smile. That's why we partner with trusted healthcare lenders, allowing you to create personalized payment plans that fit your needs, budget, and lifestyle.
Our Blogs
Insights, Tips, and Trends to Keep You Informed
What Our Patients Are Saying…
We take great pride in extending our exceptional care to patients not only within Marlborough but also from diverse locations, ensuring that our commitment to service reaches beyond boundaries.
One Location, Countless Smiles
We take great pride in extending our exceptional care to patients not only
within Marlborough
but also from diverse locations, ensuring that our
commitment to service reaches beyond boundaries.
- Marlborough
- Auburn
- Maynard
- Bolton
- Hudson
- Framingham
- Westborough
- Shrewsbury
- Northborough
- Southborough
- Hopkinton
- Ashland