Relieve Tooth Pain and Preserve Your Natural Tooth With Root Canal Therapy
An infected or inflamed tooth can cause significant discomfort and may become more serious without treatment. Root canal therapy removes damaged tissue from inside a tooth, helping relieve symptoms and preserve the natural tooth whenever possible.
At Harvest Hills Family Dental, we take a careful approach to evaluating tooth pain and explaining treatment options. If root canal therapy is recommended, we will guide you through the procedure and the steps needed to restore the tooth afterwards.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy treats infection or inflammation inside a tooth, where the pulp contains nerves and blood vessels. The affected tissue is removed, the inner canals are cleaned and sealed, and the tooth is restored to help protect it from further damage.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
- Can relieve pain caused by inflamed or infected pulp
- Helps preserve your natural tooth
- Removes infected tissue from inside the tooth
- Restores the tooth for everyday function
- May help avoid extraction when the tooth can be saved
What To Expect
We start with an examination and usually dental X-rays to identify the source of discomfort and assess whether the tooth can be saved. Your dentist will review the findings and explain the recommended treatment or referral if needed.
During treatment, local anaesthetic is used to numb the area. The dentist opens the tooth, removes the affected pulp, and cleans, shapes, and fills the root canals. Depending on the case, treatment may take one or more visits.
A filling or crown is then used to seal and protect the treated tooth. Your dentist will advise whether a crown is recommended, how to manage temporary tenderness, and when to return for follow-up care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about root canal therapy, treatment, and what to expect.
Yes, although many root canal-treated teeth remain functional for years. New decay, a crack, or leakage around a restoration can sometimes allow reinfection. Regular checkups and good oral hygiene help protect the tooth, and further treatment may be possible if a problem develops.
Often, especially for back teeth that take substantial chewing pressure. A crown may protect a weakened tooth from fracture, but the best final restoration depends on how much healthy tooth structure remains and where the tooth is located.
The number and shape of the canals, the presence of infection, and the tooth involved affect the appointment length. Some teeth can be treated in one visit, while others require multiple visits. Your dentist will explain what to expect for your case.
Possible signs include lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting, swelling, or a pimple-like bump on the gums. Some affected teeth have few or no symptoms. An examination and dental X-rays are needed for a diagnosis.
Local anaesthetic is used to keep you comfortable during treatment. Root canal therapy is intended to address the source of pain, although the area may feel tender for a few days afterwards. Tell your dentist if discomfort is severe or does not improve.
