Frequently Asked Questions

The roots of your teeth have small openings, called root canals, which allow blood vessels and nerve fibers to bring nutrients and sensation to your teeth. If infection occurs in or around these small openings, it can damage the pulp inside of the tooth.

A root canal treatment is a procedure that removes damaged pulp from inside the tooth, and protects it from future infection.

If tooth pulp becomes acutely inflamed or infected, it needs to be removed in order to save the tooth.

Pulpal damage is commonly caused by:

• Physical trauma, like a sports injury, that impacts the teeth
• Tooth decay (like a cavity) that advances into the root canal. Bacteria reaches into the pulp and nerve endings, causing infection, decay, and extreme sensitivity
• Broken teeth that expose the pulp to bacteria

Symptoms include:

• Tooth pain while chewing
• Tooth sensitivity to temperature
• Swollen gums or face
• Discolored or gray teeth

The only alternative is to have a tooth extraction, which isn’t recommended because extraction can cause problems like teeth shifting position, difficulty chewing, and loss of jawbone density.

Root canal treatment has a 98% success rate, and can heal the tooth for a lifetime.

A root canal treatment is done under local anesthesia, and might feel very similar to getting a filling.

First, the affected area is numbed, and a dental dam is placed around the tooth to keep it dry during the procedure. A small opening is made at the top of the tooth and small tools are used to take out the infected pulp. Then the tooth is disinfected and filled with an inert, biocompatible material, and sealed with adhesive cement.

Pain and sensitivity might last for a few days after treatment, and can be relieved with over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen. You might be instructed to avoid chewing on the affected tooth for a few days. After a few days, the temporary filling is removed and replaced with a permanent filling or crown.

You can prevent the need for root canal treatment by brushing and flossing every day, and scheduling regular cleanings. Acidic beverages, like soda, and sugar can contribute to infections in the mouth, so it’s best to avoid them. If you’re active in sports, it’s best to wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth from injury.

Pediatric dentistry is the study, practice, teaching, and research of oral care treatments and preventions in children. It is recommended that children visit their pediatric dentist twice a year. Parents should schedule the first visit within six months of their child’s first baby tooth coming in, or by 12 months of age. Regular checkups thereafter will help prevent oral health complications as your little one grows up.

Brushing and flossing every day is the best way to prevent cavities and gum disease. However, if your child has aggressive signs of an oral disease, home hygiene will not do the job on its own and restorative treatments will be necessary. Such pediatric dental treatments include:

• Tooth fillings: Cavities and irreversible tooth enamel erosion will need to be treated with fillings. These complications usually occur from a poor diet of excessive acidic liquids and foods, as well as inadequate home hygiene. Baby teeth are more likely to be affected than permanent teeth because the enamel is thinner and less mineralized. The filling will help prevent the cavity from progressing.
• Pediatric pulp therapy: A baby root canal is similar to its root canal counterpart in the way that the pulp inside a tooth will be treated in an effort to save or restore it.
• Crowns: Made of stainless steel, crowns are placed on a child’s baby molars in an effort to protect them. This could be because the teeth have not formed properly or are already very decayed.
• Tooth extractions: Removing a tooth might be necessary if your child is experiencing trauma, disease, overcrowding, or decay.
• Space maintainers: After a tooth is extracted, a space maintainer is placed at the extraction site to ensure that your child’s tooth erupts properly.

To ensure that your child has all possible defenses to fight tooth decay, plaque, and tooth loss, there are two preventive dental treatments available. These treatments include:

• Sealants: A thin coating is placed on the deep pits and grooves of baby and permanent teeth to help prevent tooth decay.
• Fluoride treatment: A mineral that has been proven to decrease the progression of cavities. Since its introduction to the water supply in 1945, dental cavities in children and adults have significantly decreased. Your child can get fluoride in two other ways:
  • Dietary fluoride supplements: Offered in tablet or liquid form, this supplement is only recommended for those who drink water low in fluoride or have a higher risk of developing cavities.
  • Topical fluoride therapy: This treatment is best used for children between three and six years old. It comes in a variety of forms, such as over-the-counter fluoridated toothpaste, gels, pastes, or varnishes. The applied treatments are done only in a professional dental office.

We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day, for two minutes each time.

If you have a toothache, please contact our office right away to schedule an appointment. In the meantime, you can take over-the-counter pain medication to help relieve the pain.

A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically placed in the jawbone to replace a missing tooth. It can support a dental crown, bridge, or denture.