Root Canal Treatment
Root Canal Treatments in San Jose, CA
Leading dental provider of root canals in Palo Alto, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Menlo Park, Atherton, Sunnydale, and Campbell.
What Is A Root Canal?
What is a root canal, and why is it often viewed as one of the most notorious restorative dentistry procedures?
Root canal treatments fall under the dental specialty of Endodontics, which is a broad term for dental procedures that involve the nerves of the teeth. A root canal is a minimally invasive procedure that removes the pulp of the tooth, which may be necessary when a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The good news for patients is that the root canal procedure has evolved over the years, and is no longer something to be feared.
Most patients have historically associated the root canal procedure with pain and a difficult recovery, but modern technological advances have made the process much more manageable – and less fearsome.
dr charmee patel performs root canals on molars and anterior teeth, and during your initial consultation, she will make sure you are educated about the procedure and know exactly what to expect.
Most Common Reasons For Root Canal Treatment
Root canals may be necessary for many reasons, and are typically characterized by pain, inflammation, or infection. The inflammation or infection of the tooth can be caused by a variety of factors, such as an untreated cavity, severe decay, genetic predisposition, previous dental treatments or surgeries, trauma, or even a chipped tooth. When a root canal is performed on the infected tooth, the damaged tooth can usually be fully restored to its natural and healthy state.
If you need a root canal, you may experience a variety of unpleasant or painful symptoms, which will continue to worsen over time. Left untreated, the infection can become a painful abscess, which can ultimately lead to bone loss in the jaw.
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Severe and unrelenting tooth, jaw, or facial pain
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
- Dullness, discoloration, or a grayish tooth appearance
- Swollen or inflamed gums
- Looseness or tooth mobility
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with dr charmee patel to receive an accurate diagnosis. By providing comprehensive education about the root canal procedure, we strive to ease the fear of our patients and help them to understand that a root canal is nothing to worry about.
What To Expect During Your Root Canal Procedure
Root canals are performed using local anesthesia, although we do offer stronger sedation options if a patient displays extreme fear or anxiety.
During the root canal, dr charmee patel will drill into the tooth, which provides an opening to extract infected tissue, decay, and bacteria from the pulp and root of the tooth. The area will then be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and the empty space will be filled and sealed to protect the tooth and prevent further decay. Because a root canal increases the fragility of the tooth, the tooth is typically covered with a crown after the procedure. This not only increases the visual aesthetics of the tooth, but also improves the success rate of the root canal.
Although patients will experience little to no pain during the procedure, it is common to experience minor soreness during the healing period. Over-the-counter painkillers are typically sufficient for pain relief following the procedure, but in some cases, you may require a stronger prescription medication during recovery.
Are you interested in learning more about root canal treatment at our San Jose dental practice?
To request an appointment for an initial consultation, please contact our San Jose office via phone at 408-294-6624 or email at (info@bayareadentalic.com).