How Root Canal Therapy Can Save Your Smile

A root canal from your dentist in Woodland, CA, can help your smile

Did you know that root canal therapy could save your smile? It’s true! With root canal treatment, you can eliminate both tooth pain as well as the risk of tooth loss. Here at the office of Dr. James P. Zimmerman in Woodland, CA, we offer a full range of dental services, including root canal treatment to help your smile—read on to learn if this treatment is right for your situation.

What root canal therapy can do for you

The most common cause for a root canal is when the innermost layer of your tooth, an area known as the pulp, has become bruised or damaged. The pulp is where the nerves and blood supply to the tooth are located. When the pulp is damaged, inflammation, pressure, and fluid all build up inside your tooth, often causing major tooth pain.

There are some definite signs and symptoms to look for which may indicate you need a root canal. Your dentist may recommend root canal therapy if you have:

• A sharp pain when you bite or chew
• Chronic throbbing pain and pressure inside a tooth
• Tooth pain that increases with exposure to hot or cold foods or beverages
• A red or white bump on your gums next to a tooth root
• Blood or pus draining from the bump on your gums
• A tooth that is darker or grayer than the teeth surrounding it

If you do need a root canal, your dentist will create a small opening in the top of your painful tooth. The inflamed pulp tissue is drawn out through the opening and replaced with a sedative material that helps eliminate inflammation, pressure, and pain. After your pain is gone, the sedative is removed and replaced with an inert material that is left inside your tooth. The small opening is then closed with a permanent filling, and your root canal is done.

Concerned? Give us a call

To learn more about how root canal therapy can help you, talk with an expert. Call Dr. James P. Zimmerman in Woodland, CA, today at (530) 661-1155.