North River Dental Care

What to Expect with Root Canal Treatment

June 21, 2023
|
Posted By: North River Dental Care
Black woman consults with her dentist while sitting in a dental chair holding her chin

Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or not, it helps to know what you can expect from root canal treatment. A root canal treatment is a dental procedure performed to treat an infected or damaged tooth and preserve its exterior structure. The procedure involves removing the damaged or infected pulp, cleaning the root canals, and filling the tooth with a replacement dental pulp to reinforce the tooth and prevent future infection.

Preparation

Before a root canal, our team will take an X-ray of the tooth to guide the procedure. Then, we’ll numb the treatment area with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort.

During the Procedure

Once the area is numb, Dr. Bailey will make a small opening in the tooth to access the pulp. The damaged or infected pulp will then be removed from the tooth. After removing the pulp, we will clean the root canals using a series of specialized instruments to remove any remaining debris or bacteria. We will fill the sterilized area with a special dental material to seal the canals and prevent further infection. In some cases, a dental crown or filling may be necessary to restore the tooth's strength and function.

Aftercare

After the procedure, our team will provide instructions on how to care for your tooth, including brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular dental checkups. We will also provide you with some tips to overcome the soreness and sensitivity you may encounter during the first day after treatment.

Root Canal Therapy in Fredericksburg, VA

A root canal treatment is a restorative procedure that can effectively treat an infected or damaged tooth and restore its function and appearance. If you have any concerns or questions about the procedure, we’d be happy to help you learn more about what you can expect from a root canal treatment. Please contact us today!

CONTACT US

Related Blog Posts
July 24, 2021
Misconceptions about Root Canal Therapy
Drawing of the inner anatomy of a tooth to show its root canals

If tooth decay, damage, and infection are left untreated, these can cause serious complications, such as tooth loss, jawbone deterioration, and systemic inflammation and infection. Root canal treatment removes a damaged pulp (the inner layer of the tooth) and flushes out infection to preserve the natural tooth and prevent the infection from spreading further.

Root canal therapy is sometimes misunderstood by patients. Here are some common misconceptions about this restorative treatment:

1. "Root Canals Are Very Painful"

Many patients worry that root canal therapy is a long and painful procedure. Your dentist will carefully numb the area around the affected tooth so that your root canal ...

August 22, 2020
Root Canal Therapy vs. Extraction
Brunette woman smiles in a dental chair before her tooth is saved by root canal therapy

Typically, it’s best to save a tooth when you can. Toot canal treatment is usually chosen over extraction, though there are sometimes valid and necessary reasons for tooth extraction.

A Tooth-Saving Procedure

Unfortunately, root canal treatment has a bad reputation that is rooted in myth and outdated information. It is in fact an incredibly important dental procedure that preserves the integrity of your natural tooth and relieves pain! If you have decay or damage to your tooth that affects the pulp within the tooth, that tooth may be in trouble. That’s where root canal therapy comes in.

Inside Root Canal Therapy

When you get a root canal ...

February 28, 2020
Are Root Canals Painful?
Brunette woman sits in a dental chair before root canal therapy in Fredericksburg, VA

For many patients, root canals are the scariest dental treatment they can think of. Movies and TV shows depict the procedure as painful and intimidating. Thankfully, modern root canals are not something to worry about! In fact, you’ll feel much more comfortable after your treatment since it will eliminate the cause of your pain.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Inside each tooth, there’s a soft center full of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. This soft bundle is called the pulp. Root canal therapy is a treatment for when a tooth’s pulp becomes inflamed or infected due to injury or tooth decay. Pulp inflammation and infection ...

If you have difficulty using our website, please email us or call us at (540) 369-4939
View the ADA Accessibility Statement