Where Does It Start
To understand what is involved with root canal therapy, you need to understand the structure of the tooth itself.
Teeth contain several layers:
• Outer Protective Layer
• Secondary Layer of Sensitive Dentin
• Inner Pulp – commonly referred to as the “nerve” of the tooth. Each Pulp chamber branches off, forming root canals leading to the tooth root tip
Typically, if you need a root canal, you may experience some of the following symptoms:
• Toothaches which occur spontaneously, often at night.
• You may feel pain when chewing or applying pressure to the affected tooth. This can be severe.
• Increased sensitivity to cold and heat.
• Discoloration.
• A pimple-like swelling on the gums.
• Swelling and/or pain in the surrounding gums and tissues.
If you experience any of these symptoms seek dental care as soon as you can.
Calling our office as soon as you experience initial pain is important, since the tooth may be saved with a root canal. Procrastinating in this case can very well result in the need for tooth extraction and replacement with a prosthetic.
What Causes the Problem
When the “nerve” or “pulp” in the middle of the tooth is damaged or infected, it can
become painful and needs to be removed. A root canal removes this tissue and replaces it with an inert filling material. Root canal treatment allows you to keep your natural tooth that is damaged and restore it to function, instead of extracting it. Root canal treatment has a bad reputation as being painful, but it can often be performed comfortably with little or no post-operative pain.
When Does the Pain Stop
Today’s advanced analgesics and technology has contributed a great deal to the comfort level of patients undergoing root canal therapy. Dr.’s Caffaratti and Cirelli combine a gentle touch with new generation anesthetics to assure that your procedure is painless. We use a local anesthetic to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. During the procedure, we isolate the tooth and keep it dry. Next we remove the pulp tissue with special instruments and disinfect the canal system. We will then place a temporary filling and wait to seal the tooth until the infection and pain is resolved. This may take several weeks
Oftentimes, root canal therapy can be completed in a single appointment. We simply clean out the diseased canal, fill it with a biologically-inert substance, and seal it from further infection. Some patients do experience post-procedural soreness or slight tissue inflammation, but these are controllable with over-the-counter analgesics.
Follow up care involves thorough home hygiene and regular dental visits for cleanings and check ups.
Together we can create a smile that reflects your lifestyle.
In addition to Root Canal Therapy, we offer these General Dentistry treatments:
• Tooth-Colored Fillings
• Permanent Bridges
• Dentures and Partial Dentures
• Dental Sealants
• Periodontal Treatment
Dr.’s Caffaratti and Cirelli also offer a full range of Cosmetic and Specialty Dentistry Services:
• Teeth Whitening
• Bonding
• Porcelain Veneers
• Dental Implants
• Bone Grafts
• Sinus Lifts
• Oral Rehabilitation
Contact our Greater Reno and Sparks, Nevada Dental Office of Dr.’s Caffaratti and Cirelli to schedule your consultation with our friendly and knowledgeable team of smile experts.