Root Canal

Root Canal

Root Canal Charlotte NC

What is a root canal? The most common cause of having a Root Canal Charlotte NC is having a cavity that has grown into the nerve of the tooth. A root canal procedure removes the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth root and any infected tooth structure. The inside of the roots are then filled with a material called gutta percha and a crown is normally placed around the tooth to help keep the tooth from fracturing. Some root canals are better treated by a specialist called an endodontist. If your root canal cannot be treated at Southview we will refer you to a trusted endodontist / specialist.

Additional Information
A root canal is a very common dental procedure. More than 15 million root canal procedures are performed each year. When you break it down per day, that is around 41,000 treatments. So why do some people need a root canal procedure? It is usually caused by a deep cavity that has grown down into the root of the tooth. The decay needs to be removed as soon as possible, so that you do not lose that tooth. With a diseased tooth, the infection runs deep into the root of the tooth by the nerve, because it is not just the tooth that is damaged. This causes concern for the gums, blood vessels, and connective tissues that hold up your tooth being affected as well.

A dentist or endodontist can handle the care of a patient during a root canal treatment. At Southview Dentistry, we are more than experienced to handle routine root canal procedures. If you need a referral to a trusted specialist in more complex cases, we are happy to provide that to you. Compassionate and comprehensive dental care is our main goal at Southview Dentistry when we perform all our procedures, including root canals in Charlotte.

How a Root Canal is Performed
The actual root canal procedure is a fairly comfortable and simple undertaking. You’ll be relaxed and reclined in our dental chairs at a modern, state of the art facility. Even so, a percentage of patients have a little bit of anxiety over a root canal. Most people might feel nervous about the dentist’s chair, but more than a million teeth are treated each year in this way. You can rest assured that you and your family are in good hands with Southview Dentistry of Charlotte. You will be relieved when it is over, because it will take care of the intense tooth pain that is the indicator of the issue in the first place.

Repairing the Damage
First to repair the tooth decay, you will be given a local anesthesia in the area the root canal will be performed. This will totally numb the area so that you do not feel much of anything while the treatment is taking place. Then a “pulpectomy” is done so that the diseased part of the tooth is removed. The newly exposed roots are filled with a specific dental material called, gutta-percha. This kind of material is meant to permanently fill the tooth area, and can prevent further decay or infection from growing there.

Finally, a crown, otherwise known as a “cap,” is placed around the tooth area to protect it from further decay. This will be the same color as your existing tooth, so that it blends in seamlessly. You won’t even know it is there protecting your tooth.

What To Expect After a Root Canal
You will be a little numb from the anesthetic for a small time after the root canal procedure, but you should not have any more pain. It is important to avoid eating anything until the numbness has worn off to prevent biting your cheek or tongue. The best part about the root canal is you should be pain-free right after. It is going to allow you to feel much better when the proper dental care has been performed. Keeping up with well-rounded dental hygiene with twice daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing should keep your teeth in tip top shape.

During future dental appointments, your dentist might take x-rays and exam the root canal area to make sure it is still properly healed. In rare cases, people experience root canal complications. You may need another root canal on the area if it becomes infected again.