If your tooth is severely damaged or infected, your dentist may recommend that you get root canal therapy in Banff to save your tooth from dying. There are many misconceptions about root canal therapy out there, and the idea of getting one makes many patients nervous. Our team at Banff Dental Care has put together this step-by-step guide for what you can expect during root canal treatment to ease your mind.

Steps Involved in Root Canal Therapy

Despite what the media may have you believe, root canal therapy near you is fairly simple. Your dentist will need to clean out the infected pulp of your tooth, reshape the area, and fill the canal. Typically, your dentist will have to place a crown over the tooth to protect it. Here is a breakdown of the steps:

#1 Preparing the Area

When you visit our dental clinic in Banff for root canal therapy, our dentist will begin by numbing the area. They will use an injection to administer local anesthesia into the gums and the root of the tooth. After the area is thoroughly numbed, our dentist will place a dental dam in your mouth to isolate the affected tooth and protect the rest of your teeth.

#2 Accessing and Cleaning the Pulp

The next step of root canal therapy involves our dentist near you drilling an access hole into your tooth to access the infected or damaged pulp and root canals. They will use an antibacterial solution to clean and disinfect your tooth.

#3 Shaping the Canals

Once the canals have been disinfected, our dentist must place a filling inside them. To do this, our dentist will have to shape the canals. They will use small instruments to shape your canals so that they are prepared to receive the filling material. Once shaped, our dentist will clean the canals out a second time to ensure there is no lingering bacteria or infection.

#4 Filling the Canals

In most cases, our dentist will use a rubber-like material called gutta-percha to fill the canals. It will be placed in the canals and then heated and compressed to fit tightly against the walls. Our dentist will add an adhesive cement to seal the canals and ensure that bacteria stay out.

#5 Filling the Access Hole

Our dentist will also have to seal the hole they created to access the canals. This will also work to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth and causing further infection.

#6 Adding the Dental Crown

The final step to getting root canal therapy near you is getting a dental crown placed over the affected tooth. A dental crown is placed over the tooth to provide it with strength and protection from further infections. Our dentist will take impressions of your tooth at your appointment and send them away to a dental lab to create your custom-made dental crown. In the meantime, they will place a temporary crown over your tooth.

Are You in Need of a Root Canal?

If you need a root canal, you must act quickly to have the best chance of saving your tooth. When you visit Banff Dental Care, our dentist will work with you to make sure that you feel safe and comfortable every step of the way. Our team is happy to answer any other questions or concerns that you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to book a consultation for root canal treatment today!

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