Nov
A root canal is a fairly routine procedure performed by most dentists today. Many people will have a root canal at some point in their life to treat an infected tooth. At Chalfont Dental Care, we offer root canal treatment to residents of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and nearby communities. As many of our patients are unfamiliar with this procedure, Dr. Varvara Clark addresses your questions and concerns about root canals here to give you a better idea of what to expect.Â
A root canal is a dental procedure used to treat a severely decayed or infected tooth. Once decay has entered your tooth’s pulp or inner chamber and damaged connective tissues and nerves, you can lose that tooth. Through root canal treatment, Dr. Clark can stop the infection and save your tooth. The procedure entails removing the infected pulp and damaged tissues to restore your oral health. Â
Dr. Clark will start by numbing your tooth so you feel no pain. Then, we’ll drill your tooth to access the infected pulp and have it removed. Once we’ve removed the pulp, we’ll cleanse and disinfect your tooth and its canals to get rid of any remaining infection. Your tooth is then filled with gutta-percha material to protect against future decay. Depending on the condition of your tooth, we may cover it with an onlay or dental crown to fortify its compromised structure.
The root canal procedure itself can generally be completed in one dental visit, taking one to two hours, depending on the severity of your condition. However, crowning your tooth will require an additional appointment as it takes time to create your restoration.
A root canal is the only treatment that can remedy a pulpal tooth infection and save your tooth. Your alternative to a root canal is to have your tooth removed. If your tooth can be saved, Dr. Clark, along with most other dentists, recommends doing so to preserve your smile. By acting quickly, you can contain the infection to keep it from destroying your tooth and infecting nearby teeth as well. Prompt root canal treatment can spare you unnecessary pain and more costly treatments later on.Â
A tooth extraction should only be considered if your tooth can’t be saved due to irreparable damage. If you choose extraction, you’ll wind up paying not only for the extraction procedure itself but for replacing your tooth later down the line. You may also develop additional dental issues in the future that could compromise your oral health.Â
Chalfont Dental Care is your one-stop location for root canal therapy in the Chalfont, PA area. To schedule a consultation for this treatment, contact Dr. Varvara Clark at (215) 826-3282.