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Root Canal in Colorado Springs

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When most people hear the words “root canal,” they cringe. But root canal therapy, or endodontics, can actually save teeth, eliminate pain and sensitivity, and restore a tooth’s appearance augmenting overall oral health.

Root canal therapy becomes necessary when soft tissue inside the root of the tooth—called pulp—is inflamed or infected. This can happen for a number of reasons: decay caused by bacteria, multiple dental procedures performed on one tooth, or a chip or fracture. Even an unchecked cavity can burrow down into the root, leading to pulp inflammation. When root canal therapy becomes necessary, Colorado Springs’ Briargate Dental Center is here to help. If you are experiencing pain give us a call at (719) 598-1293 for more information! We can determine what the issue is, from infection to TMJ issues, we can help.

Symptoms of Pulp Inflammation

Some patients have inflammation or infection without noticing any symptoms. However, in most cases, there are some warning signs that there are problems in a tooth’s root:

  • Prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Swelling and tenderness of the surrounding gums

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially with a tooth that has had multiple dental procedures performed on it, give us a call right away.

Root Canal Therapy Treatment Options

The traditional approach is to remove the inflamed pulp and shape the canal before filling and sealing it. Back teeth typically need a crown as well since most teeth needing root canal therapy will have significant decay. Front teeth require crowns at times, too.

Endodontic Procedure
Tests and x-rays are performed to determine what exactly needs to be done structurally. The tooth is then numbed with local anesthesia, and the tooth is isolated with a rubber barrier. Handpieces are then used to open the tooth, clean out the pulp, and shape the canal.

Filling the Canals
A rubbery material called gutta-percha (or some other biocompatible material) is used to fill the cleaned root canals and sealed with an adhesive cement.

Tooth Restoration
If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold together after the root canal therapy, a core buildup—and a post, in some cases—needs to be added into the root canal. A crown or other restorative option is then added to this solid foundation.

A Solution for Trama

In many cases, when an injury occurs to the teeth, pulp inflammation results and will require root canal therapy. This could occur from several types of injuries:

  • Chipped tooth or fracture
  • Dislodged teeth
  • Avulsed teeth (one that has been completely knocked out)

While each case is different, root canal therapy can often restore damaged teeth, even teeth that have been knocked out, if treated promptly – helping to improve overall oral health.

When Surgery Becomes Necessary

If a traditional root canal is unable to fix the problem or leads to additional complications, surgery may be the last option. Here are some of the issues that may require surgery:

  • Blocked canals
  • Unsuccessful traditional root canal
  • Split root
  • Bone inflammation
  • Other root damage

In each of these cases, endodontic surgery could very well save teeth permanently.

Your Local Root Canal Experts

Serving the surrounding Colorado Springs communities, Briargate Dental Center help improve oral health by providing root canal therapy and other dental options to qualified patients. Please explore our site to learn more!

You can trust your teeth and those of your family with the expert team at Briargate Dental Center. Our team understands the fear often associated with root canal therapy and will work hard to make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible. If you suspect you may have a root canal issue, give us a call right away at (719) 598-1293.