If you hear "root canal," from your Spokane Valley, WA, dentist, rest assured this treatment is very reliable. Root canal therapy spares a tooth from extraction, allowing you to keep it for years to come. And, it doesn't hurt. At Harken Dental Excellence, Dr. Bradley Harken is an expert on root canals and will restore your smile.
Reasons for a root canal
Also called endodontic treatment, a root canal procedure removes the soft pulp from a tooth's interior chamber and the thin channels which course down each root. This pulp may be diseased and inflamed because of dental abscess, a traumatic injury to the mouth or decay. Even multiple old fillings may weaken a tooth sufficiently and endanger its health and strength.
What may suddenly send a patient to their dentist in Spokane Valley, WA, is throbbing toothache. Bacteria and pus build-up within the hard structure of a tooth, leading to this painful symptom. Other dangerous symptoms include:
- Missing tooth structure (a substantial chip, for instance)
- Dark enamel
- A reddened pimple on the gums near the tooth
- Jaw and gum swelling
- Halitosis (bad breath which does not go away)
- Foul-tasting drainage
- Dental sensitivity to chewing, cold or heat
Dr. Harken carefully evaluates these symptoms and examines the tooth in question before recommending any restorative treatment. Root canal therapy is a procedure he favors because it allows the individual to keep the tooth, and it also beautifies it with a protective porcelain crown.
The root canal treatment
Most patients need a simple local numbing shot for this two-visit treatment. Dr. Harken accesses the first root canal with a high speed drill. Then, he extracts all the sick pulp with several small metal files.
Next, he cleans the canal with a disinfecting medication. Dentistry IQ explains that this step is critical to long-term root canal success. Finally, he strengthens and seals the canal with an elastic putty called gutta-percha.
As needed, Dr. Harken repeats the process on all the root canals in the affected tooth. He puts a temporary cap or filling over the tooth to protect it as it heals over the next week or so. When the patient returns to Harken Dental Excellence, the dentist takes off the cap and bonds on a beautiful porcelain crown.
The American Association of Endodontists says that root canals succeed 98 percent of the time. The tooth is pain-free and functional for years as long as the patient brushes, flosses and keeps up with his or her regular examinations and hygienic cleanings with Dr. Harken.
For a fuller explanation...
Consult with Dr. Harken at Harken Dental Excellence in Spokane Valley, WA. The office is open seven days a week for your convenience. Call (509) 924-7600 with any question or concern you have about a tooth or upcoming root canal therapy.