What Can You Expect During Root Canal Treatment?

Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming root canal treatment? Although this common procedure has had a reputation for being painful, the truth is that it relieves pain rather than causing it, and it helps preserve your natural teeth, which is always the best option for your smile. At Covenant Dental, our skilled and compassionate team is dedicated to ensuring you are comfortable and at ease at every step. The following is a look at what you can expect to help put your mind at ease.

Why would you need root canal treatment?

Inside every tooth is a small area called the pulp chamber that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. This living tissue, known as the dental pulp, is critical for a tooth’s growth and development. Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that’s designed to treat a tooth with inner pulp infection or inflammation, usually caused by deep decay, repeated dental procedures, a large filling, or a crack or chip.

Left untreated, tooth pulp damage can lead to a host of complications, including severe pain, an abscess, bone loss around the affected tooth’s roots, and even tooth loss. The infection may also spread to the surrounding teeth or enter the bloodstream, putting your health at risk. Root canal treatment relieves the discomfort caused by inner pulp inflammation and infection and also helps save the affected tooth, enhancing your smile.

What can you expect during treatment?

Root canal treatment usually requires a single visit for most patients. The following is a look at what you may expect:

• Treatment planning: We will start with a thorough exam, during which we will capture high-definition images of the affected tooth and the surrounding structures. This helps guide treatment planning, enhancing precision, reducing complications, and ensuring the best possible treatment outcomes.
• Ensuring your comfort: We will numb the affected tooth and the surrounding area to help you feel comfortable, and we are happy to offer sedation dentistry options if needed to ensure you are relaxed during your procedure.
• Your root canal treatment: Once you are comfortable, we will remove the diseased pulp tissue, reshape and decontaminate your root canals, place a biocompatible material known as gutta-percha, and seal the space with a filling to prevent reinfection.
• Restoring the treated tooth: After root canal therapy, the tooth loses its blood supply, leaving it brittle and susceptible to fracture over time. This is why we recommend restoring the tooth with a dental crown. Your treated tooth will look, feel, and function like your natural teeth. With good oral hygiene habits and visits to Covenant Dental for regular dental exams and cleanings, the treated tooth can last a lifetime.

Root canal treatment in Fort Worth, TX

If you would like to learn more about relieving your discomfort and preserving a damaged tooth with root canal therapy, contact Covenant Dental to schedule a consultation. Our patient-centered team is always happy to answer your questions and address your concerns. We never spare any effort to ensure you are as comfortable as possible at every step. Call us at 817-204-6686 to schedule your appointment, or visit our online booking portal to choose the time that works best for you.