SERVICES

Root Canal

Root canal treatment is a restorative procedure that saves millions of teeth each year from being extracted due to severe inflammation or injury. It involves removing damaged pulp and nerves from inside a tooth to eliminate bacteria and stop an infection from spreading.

At Sapphire Smiles, Dr. Mary and Dr. Antoun are gentle dentists who are empathetic and strive to understand your concerns. Visit us for a general dentist in Houston who will aim to relieve your dental pain and save your tooth.

Why It's Important to Save the Natural Tooth

When a fracture or cavity has damaged your tooth, it may seem simpler to have it pulled instead of spending money on a root canal. But that may not be the best solution. Although there are instances where a tooth cannot be saved, many patients can reduce pain and save their natural tooth with root canal therapy.

If you choose not to save the tooth, you may have to deal with the following consequences:

Difficulty eating and speaking
Teeth that shift to fill the empty space
Bone loss that changes your facial structure and alters your appearance

Investing in root canal therapy will help you prevent these problems and other complications that may result from a missing tooth.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is the process of removing the nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissue from the center of a tooth. These tissues are called “pulp.” After removing the pulp, a dentist will measure, clean, shape, and disinfect the space before filling it with a rubber-like material. The procedure typically takes thirty minutes to one hour.

We might recommend root canal therapy for the following reasons:

A large cavity that reaches the nerve
An abscessed tooth
Trauma that has caused chronic pain and inflammation
A fractured or broken tooth

If an X-ray reveals bone damage due to non-vital pulp, root canal therapy will be the recommended treatment.

Katie is an actual smile makeover patient at Sapphire Smiles

Root Canal Therapy at Sapphire Smiles

After determining that root canal therapy is your best option, we will apply a local anesthetic to ensure that you feel minimal pain during your root canal treatment. Your comfort is important to us as we strive to provide you with a positive patient experience.

During the root canal, the dentist uses a rubber dam around the infected tooth to prevent saliva from seeping in. They will drill a hole into the tooth to access the canal and gently remove the infected pulp and additional debris.

The canal will be carefully cleaned. Then, the canal will be sealed with a paste and gutta-percha, a rubber-like substance that will protect your tooth. The dentist will recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth from further damage.

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