Root Canal Therapy

Silver Spring, Maryland

A Modern Approach to Dental Care

Are you worried about an upcoming root canal appointment? Root canal therapy has had quite a bad rap over the years. However, the endodontic procedure relieves pain rather than causing it and helps save damaged teeth and maintain healthy smiles. Dr. Horng, Dr. Aleman, and our team at Sunshine Smiles Dental Care are committed to ensuring your time with us is as comfortable as possible.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that helps save a tooth with deep decay or inner pulp infection. During treatment, our skilled and experienced dentists at Sunshine Smiles Dental Care will remove the infected pulp tissues from inside the affected tooth and clean and disinfect the space. Next is filling the root canals with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha to prevent further infection or damage. The last step is placing a temporary filling.

After root canal therapy, the tooth can become brittle and susceptible to breakage, which is why we typically place a dental crown for protection. Your root canal-treated tooth will look, feel, and function like any of your natural teeth.

What Are the Causes of Tooth Pulp Damage?

Tooth pulp damage usually results from untreated cavities, deep decay, repeated dental procedures, or damaged dental restorations. Trauma can also result in tooth chips or cracks, which provide an entryway for harmful oral bacteria.

What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Pulp Infection?

Some common signs indicating you need a root canal treatment include the following:

Deep decay
A chipped or cracked tooth
A severe or persistent toothache
Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Swelling or tenderness of the gums
Tooth graying or discoloration
A pimple-like bump on the gums
Facial swelling

At times, tooth pulp damage does not produce any symptoms. Keeping up with your twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings will ensure any problems are addressed promptly.

Is There an Alternative to Root Canal Therapy?

Saving an infected root requires a root canal treatment. Otherwise, the bacteria can begin to multiply in the pulp chamber, leading to severe pain, an abscess, and facial swelling. The longer treatment is delayed, the worse the damage. The infection can also enter the bloodstream, posing a risk to your overall health.

The only alternative to a required root canal procedure is to have the infected tooth extracted. However, leaving a gap in your smile can lead to complications like crooked teeth and problems with the bite. The imbalance resulting from a missing tooth can also increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, uneven tooth wear, tooth fracture, and even TMJ pain. That’s why we may recommend a dental bridge or implant to replace a missing tooth.

At Sunshine Smiles Dental Care, we are proponents of saving damaged teeth whenever possible. Root canal therapy is highly predictable, with a success rate of over 95%! With proper care, the root canal-treated tooth can last a lifetime!

Advanced 3D Imaging

At Sunshine Smiles Dental Care, we use the latest dental technology for enhanced treatment outcomes. Our state-of-the-art CBCT imaging allows us to capture intricate images of the affected tooth’s anatomy and detect even the most subtle root canal complications that may not be visible to traditional x-rays.

One of the leading causes of root canal treatment failure is missing a root canal during treatment. CBCT imaging helps uncover any unusual root canal anatomy, contributing to the procedure’s success.