Even if you’ve never had root canal treatment, you may dread the procedure, just because of jokes or tall tales! The fact is, a root canal treatment is just that…it treats the problem and relieves pain. In most cases, you will not have any pain during a root canal procedure. But do you know what it is, and why we perform root canal therapy at Dr. Glenn Fortner’s dental office in Glen Allen?
Why would I need root canal treatment?
When the nerves inside the pulp and root canals of your tooth become damaged or infected, it can cause discomfort, swelling, or sensitivity to heat and cold. An infection in the pulp and root canals generally does not clear itself, and needs treatment.
How is root canal therapy performed?
We first treat any infection and clean the tooth by removing any disease and cleaning out bacteria and debris that cause infection.
Once the tooth is cleaned, we fill the empty spaces in the root canals to seal them against bacteria. In most cases after root canal treatment, the tooth will be weakened and need to be reinforced. The best option is usually to place a porcelain crown on the tooth to protect and strengthen it.
If you’re experiencing any pain, or recurring soreness and inflammation, please contact our dental office in Glen Allen at 877.849.2226 to see us as soon as possible. In some cases, you may not feel any symptoms, but a general exam and x-rays might show us a problem before it becomes painful. So remember to keep up with regular checkups too!