Restore Your Oral Health with Root Canal Therapy
When left untreated, oral bacteria can penetrate into the interior of a tooth and lead to a range of issues. Dr. Jon Marc Van Slate performs root canal therapy at his Houston, TX, practice to restore oral health and prevent tooth loss or the need for tooth extraction. Dr. Van Slate uses a gentle touch and an innovative form of local anesthesia delivery to ensure the comfort of patients during root canal procedures. In addition, he also offers oral-conscious sedation for those who are particularly nervous about treatment. Contact our practice today to schedule an appointment and learn more.
Understanding a Tooth Infection
The collection of connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves inside of a tooth is referred to as the pulp. The pulp is located within a chamber known as a root canal. When oral bacteria is allowed to build up on the surface of a tooth, it can slowly erode enamel and eventually spread to the pulp. As an infection develops, the patient can experience noticeable discomfort that ranges from dull and intermittent aching to sharp and consistent pain.
Root canal therapy is used as a trusted way to eliminate an infection, preserve the health of a tooth, and prevent additional damage.
If the infection is not properly treated, it can spread to surrounding tissues or enter the blood stream and contribute to other health problems. Root canal therapy offers several benefits. It is used as a trusted way to eliminate an infection, preserve the health of a tooth, and prevent additional damage. If you think you may have a tooth infection, we can perform a thorough diagnosis with the help of digital dental x-rays.
The Root Canal Procedure
There have been many advances in root canal therapy. With innovative Wave One and Gutta Core technology, root canals can be comfortably done in as little as one hour. Once the pulp is removed from the tooth, a safe, biocompatible material called gutta percha is placed to seal the canals and prevent reinfection. Prior to the procedure, you may be placed on antibiotics to help combat infection and promote faster healing. For optimal strength and function, we often advise having a crown placed on the tooth after root canal therapy.
Once you are at ease, Dr. Van Slate will create a small opening at the top of your tooth to access its root canals. Using special tools, he will remove infected portions before sterilizing the area. The resulting space within your tooth will then be filled in with a rubber-like paste. After undergoing root canal therapy, we typically recommend receivin a dental crown — which is a tooth-shaped cap — to provide protection and structural reinforcement to your treated tooth.
Learn More about Root Canal Therapy
Many patients have a fear that root canal therapy will be a highly unpleasant experience. Fortunately, advances in anesthesia and dentistry techniques have enabled dentists to perform root canal treatments with minimal discomfort. Many patients compare the procedure to the process of receiving a dental filling. To schedule a root canal consultation with Dr. Van Slate, reach out to our practice today.
