Most people’s jaws clench tightly when they hear the term “root canal.” During this procedure, a dentist saves a seriously damaged or infected tooth — as opposed to removing it — by thoroughly cleaning the root of the tooth.
There’s no doubt about it: It’s a procedure that requires great skill on the part of your dentist, but it’s also been associated with great pain. The good news is that there have been marked advances that make the procedure truly comfortable.
Dr. Ali Saeghi and the highly skilled Modern Age Dentistry team deliver top-notch root canal care. Dr. Saeghi is invested in ensuring that you understand what your root canal procedure will involve; to that end, he prioritizes addressing all your questions and concerns.
As we noted, a root canal is a procedure in which Dr. Saeghi opts to save your natural tooth, rather than extract it, and it’s a common one — over 41,000 root canals are performed each day in the United States.
First, it’s important to understand a bit about the composition of your teeth. The tough outer part of your tooth is your enamel, which is protective and the hardest substance in your body. Underneath that is the dentin.
Cementum is what covers your tooth’s root and aids in securing your tooth within your jaw.
The inside of your tooth contains pulp, which consists of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues and encourages your tooth root to grow. Once your tooth is fully mature, it no longer needs the nourishment provided by the pulp. It gets that instead from surrounding tissue.
The need for a root canal procedure emerges if your pulp:
During root canal treatment, Dr. Saeghi clears the “bad,” or infected, pulp. It’s critical to seek treatment — despite the dread you may feel about getting a root canal — because without it, your pain intensifies and you can even develop an abscess.
Now that you understand the anatomy of your teeth, you need to know the warning signs that mean you might need to undergo a root canal procedure to eliminate your pain and discomfort.
Occasional tooth pain is one thing, but if one tooth is giving you real problems with pain that doesn’t abate, you might need root canal treatment from Dr. Saeghi.
Different types of pain can manifest when you need a root canal. These include a dull ache, sharp pain, or throbbing pain. Pain can also come on suddenly, be continuous, or arrive on and off.
This type of tooth pain can be debilitating, and you might also notice extreme sensitivity to hot and cold. Another warning sign is if you feel pain when any pressure is applied to the tooth, like when you chew.
If your gums around the problem tooth become puffy and sensitive, it’s a root canal warning sign. Ditto if you notice any bleeding from your gums.
This inflammation is a sign that all’s not well with that particular tooth, and is different from, say gingivitis (early gum disease), where most or all of your gum area is affected.
If your tooth pulp becomes infected or dies because of insufficient blood supply, discoloration can be a byproduct.
An infection or damage to your tooth can cause it to become darkened and take on a gray or blackish cast.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to meet with Dr. Saeghi, who can evaluate you and take X-rays to see what’s really going on.
If he deems your tooth salvageable, then you’re a candidate for a root canal — but not to worry. As we said, your care experience here is managed carefully and compassionately.
Your procedure begins with Dr. Saeghi administering a local anesthetic, which numbs your treatment area so you can be comfortable during the procedure. After this, he makes a minute hole in the top part of your tooth, from which he can remove your unhealthy pulp. Following that, Dr. Saeghi carefully cleans and dries your treatment area.
The last step is filling the hole he made with a temporary filling. After a period of several weeks, he provides you with a restoration, like a crown.
We’re proud to report that our patients are consistently pleased — and surprised — that getting a root canal does not live up to all the scary stories they might have heard in the past!
If you’re experiencing discomfort like we’ve described here, call one of our Modern Age Dentistry offices that’s most convenient to you to make an appointment, or book one with us online. We’re in Ojai, West Hills, and Atwater Village, California.
