Root Canals services offered in Reston VA
Root canals are treatments for teeth with severe deep infections or with inflammation in their soft tissue. Perfect Smiles of Reston, located in Reston, Virginia, offers root canals with exceptional care that are pain-free thanks to local anesthesia. To schedule a consultation with general and cosmetic dentist Aramesh Darvishian, DDS, call the office or book online today.
Root Canals Q & A
What are root canals?
Root canals, root canal therapy, or endodontic treatment refers to the procedure you get to remove damaged pulp from inside a tooth. The pulp is a general term for all of the soft inner parts of your teeth including nerves, blood vessels, and tissue.
During a root canal, Dr. Darvishian delivers local anesthesia before starting the process. She makes a hole in the tooth needing treatment and uses a fine tool to extract the pulp from the inside. She might use the aid of a microscope for a more direct view of the tooth as she works.
Once the pulp is cleared from the narrow passageways within your tooth, Dr. Darvishian cleans and disinfects the inside thoroughly so that no more bacteria can grow and infect the tooth. She fills the tooth with biocompatible material and seals the opening with adhesive cement.
Later, Dr. Darvishian may place a crown over the tooth. This provides additional protection and structural reinforcement. The tooth will survive without the pulp, but needs the aid of a filling and maybe a crown to continue being as functional as it was before treatment.
Why do I need a root canal?
The need for a root canal comes from inflammation or infection inside a tooth. There are multiple ways this can happen, including:
Avoiding treatment for a cavity
Getting a filling for a cavity is a simple process, and you should do it right away if Dr. Darvishian tells you that you need one. Untreated cavities harbor bacteria, which can spread down into the pulp of the tooth and cause an infection.
Deeply chipping or cracking a tooth
Some chips and cracks in the teeth don’t go anywhere near the pulp. However, some are deep enough to let bacteria in and cause an infection within the pulp.
Experiencing impact or trauma to a tooth
Whether it comes from a car accident or contact sport, a traumatic tooth injury can severely impact the pulp inside a tooth even if the tooth itself doesn’t break. This causes painful inflammation that needs a root canal to treat.
Extensive dental work
Too much dental work can be a bad thing for a tooth. After multiple treatments like fillings or restorations on a single tooth, the pulp can be more susceptible to infection or inflammation.
What are some signs of needing a root canal?
The symptoms that appear when you need a root canal are hard to ignore. They include:
- Constant mouth pain or pressure
- Noticeable gum swelling
- Tooth sensitivity, especially to extreme temperatures
- Sharp pain when biting down
It’s important for you to schedule a visit with Dr. Darvishian right away if you experience these symptoms.
To schedule an appointment for a possible root canal at Perfect Smiles of Reston, reserve an appointment over the phone or online today.