If you have an infected tooth, you may need to get a root canal treatment. This procedure involves removing the infected pulp from inside your tooth’s root, cleaning out the canal, and sealing it with a special material to prevent reinfection.
Warnings That You May Be in Need of Root Canal Therapy:
- A sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swollen or sore gums
- Dark gums
- Severe pain while chewing
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, come see us right away. When done quickly, a root canal is your best chance to save your infected tooth.
Understanding Root Canals
Root canals, also known as endodontic therapy, are recommended when injury or decay reaches past your outer layer of tooth enamel and deep into the tooth. If left untreated, this type of dental damage can cause the tooth to die and make a tooth extraction necessary. Root canal therapy saves your tooth, preventing the need for more invasive and extensive treatments to remove and replace it, and restores your oral health and function. After your root canal, our Arlington dentist will also cap the treated tooth with a dental crown to protect it from further damage and restore its original shape and structure.
How Long is the Root Canal Process
Most root canals can be completed in just one or two visits to our office, and while root canals may have a reputation for being painful, the truth is that advances in technology, anesthesia, and treatment techniques have made it possible to provide them with minimal discomfort. Root canals today are more comfortable and more effective than ever before!
We invite you to call Riverside Dental at 703-263-8009 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Shutong Hartsell and learn more about root canal therapy in Arlington, Virginia!