Root Canal

Dental pulp is the soft tissue located inside a tooth that contains the tooth’s nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue, and reparative cells. A root canal, a type of endodontic treatment, is necessary when the pulp inside the root of your tooth becomes inflamed or infected. Family dentists, endodontists, and oral surgeons are the most qualified providers to evaluate your condition and determine if the right course of treatment is a root canal procedure.

During root canal treatment, your specialist will remove the pulp inside the canal of the tooth root, carefully clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth, and then seal it closed with a special type of filling. This focused treatment can save your tooth—root canals treat and save millions of teeth each year.

If you or your child need a root canal, turn to the experts at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA. Dr. Balaci or Dr. Murphy will walk you through the treatment process to ensure optimal results and a comfortable experience.

Dr. Balaci and Dr. Murphy at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA, provide a variety of services to restore your oral health and smile, including root canal treatment, for patients of all ages. Contact us today, and our knowledgeable team is happy to schedule an appointment for you or a member of your family in our welcoming and state-of-the-art practice. We appreciate the opportunity to care for you.

Why Are Root Canals Necessary?

If you are experiencing pain from a dental infection or deep decay, or damage to a tooth from an accident (even if you are unable to see a visible crack or chip), you may need root canal treatment to save and restore your tooth. Regardless of the cause of the damage, your provider will work hard to save your natural tooth. Advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that otherwise may have been lost.

Sometimes, there are no symptoms when a tooth needs root canal treatment, but if you experience any of the following, it’s important to see a dental professional as soon as possible. Prompt treatment is important to avoid severe pain or abscesses that may make a successful restoration more difficult.

Signs to look for include:

• Tooth pain
• Sensitivity in a tooth to heat or cold
• Tooth tenderness when chewing
• Discoloration of the tooth
• Swelling, drainage, and tenderness in the lymph nodes and/or nearby bone and gum tissues

Please note: If you experience a dental or facial injury, our staff will see you as soon as possible. Usually, we will make space in the schedule to see you the day you call, but be sure to head to the emergency room for treatment if your injuries are severe.

Root Canal Process

At Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery, we recommend restorative treatment with a root canal when it is absolutely necessary, often after your dentist has attempted to repair it with a filling. We take 3D scans of your teeth during the first visit, as well as discuss your options for anesthesia or sedation. The most common types of anesthetics used for root canals include local anesthesia (lidocaine), nitrous oxide, and oral sedatives.

During a root canal, after the tooth is numbed using anesthetic medication, your doctor will remove the pulp inside the tooth, clean and medicate the inside of the tooth, and then place a filling on the tooth to seal the space. It’s possible that you may require additional work from a restorative dentist to create and place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to further protect and restore it to full chewing function.

After a root canal, your tooth will continue to function like any other tooth but may feel sensitive for a few days after treatment, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. Prescription medications may be prescribed to help control any discomfort, but over-the-counter medication is sufficient for most of our root canal patients. In some cases, you may be prescribed an antibiotic to clear an infection before your root canal treatment.

If the natural tooth is too damaged or infected to be saved, we can discuss your options for replacing it, such as dental implants. Dental implants replace the entire tooth, including the root, to provide fully functional, natural-looking results. If your natural tooth cannot be saved, we will discuss all of your options for restoration so you can have a complete and healthy smile.