The American Academy of Endodontics says that around 15 million root canals are performed every year in the United States. A root canal involves drilling deep into the roots of the tooth to remove decaying or unhealthy material and then restructuring those canals with a dental filling material. At City Dental, our team of Portland dentist is highly familiar with root canal therapy and can help you save a tooth you would otherwise need to have extracted.
The Root Canal Process Explained in Simple Steps
Each root canal can be unique, but the general process usually involves a series of straightforward steps:
- Numbing – The area will be numbed with a localized, injected anesthetic
- Cleaning – The dentist accesses the pulp chamber to remove decay and bacteria from the root
- Shaping – Canals are shaped through the root of the tooth
- Filling – The created canals are cleaned and then filled with filling material
- Crowning – In the event the structure of the tooth has been affected, the tooth may then be fitted for a crown
As an adage, some patients may need to take antibiotics directly after treatment if there are risks of an infection. However, this step in treatment can also depend on the specifics of the situation.
Common Root Canal Questions
Get the Root Canal You Need from a Qualified Portland Dentist
Root canals can sound scary, but these procedures are exceptionally common and highly effective. If you have a tooth that you believe needs a root canal, reach out to us at city dental in portland OR so we can get you in for an appointment.