Visiting a dentist in Scarborough for root canal therapy

Many people who have never had the treatment have misconceptions about root canal therapy. In truth, this treatment gets you out of discomfort quickly, and allows you to keep a natural tooth that would otherwise require extraction. The dentists at Esquire Dental Centres bring these benefits to patients in Scarborough and surrounding areas, with gentle endodontic care.

When a tooth has a deep area of decay or damage, it eventually reaches the pulp chamber beneath the hard enamel and dentin layers. It houses blood vessels that keep your tooth vital and nerves that allow you to sense bite pressure and temperature. When this area becomes infected, pressure builds and the nerve is inflamed. That triggers a severe toothache that may build gradually or happen quite suddenly. You may develop a lump on the gum or your face could swell on that side. Root canal therapy brings relief and promotes the healing process.

The procedure is precise, but straightforward:

• You are settled comfortably in the dental chair. Then the problem area is completely numbed with local anesthetic. In just a few minutes, discomfort lessens dramatically.
• The doctor places a thin piece of rubber on a frame around the tooth to protect your mouth and throat.
• The tooth is opened and all areas of decay or damage are removed. Most patients feel additional relief at this point, as the pressure of infection is released.
• The dentist takes impressions of your mouth.
• The pulp and nerve are eliminated from the root canal, and the chamber is sanitized.
• Medications are applied to prevent re-infection, and a temporary filling is placed.
• You may be given prescriptions for additional medications. In many cases, non-prescription analgesics are sufficient.
• Since the tooth no longer has blood flow, the structure may become brittle. A porcelain crown restores strength and protects the tooth from further damage. The doctor uses the impressions to have it created. You return in several weeks to have the temporary filling removed and the crown cemented into place.

In the gentle hands of Dr. Ashraf, Mark, or Amir Awadalla, endodontic treatment is no cause for apprehension. Call them today at 416 203-1434 in Scarborough, 416 223-7869 for North York, or 905 250-1605 for Pickering to have your questions about root canal therapy answered.