Root Canal Specialist
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First Family Dental
General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Arlington, VA
If bacteria have invaded the inner structures of your tooth, leaving you with a painful infection, a root canal procedure not only clears up the infection but preserves your tooth. First Family Dental provides patients in the Arlington, Virginia, area with experienced and expert root canal care. To learn more, call or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.
Root Canal Q & A
What are the most common signs I need a root canal?
Inside each of your teeth is a soft material called pulp, which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The pulp extends from the crown of your tooth down into your roots.
If harmful bacteria make their way inside this soft tissue, they can cause an infection that not only leads to pain and discomfort, but the infection can threaten the entire tooth.
Outside of the pain, which may be constant or only flare-up when you apply pressure to the tooth while you’re eating, other signs of a possible infection include:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
- Inflamed gums around the tooth
- Pimple-like bumps on your gums
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, it’s important to seek help at First Family Dental as soon as possible.
What happens during a root canal procedure?
If the dental experts at First Family Dental confirm an infection, they perform a root canal procedure. Rest assured, before they get started, they administer a local anesthetic for your comfort.
During your root canal procedure, the dentist:
- Accesses your pulp
- Clears out the infected pulp
- Disinfects your root canal
- Fills in the area with gutta-percha (a rubber-like compound)
To protect the area, the dentist provides you with a filling or a temporary crown.
Do I need a crown after a root canal procedure?
In most cases, you need a crown to cover and protect your tooth after a root canal procedure. During your initial root canal treatment, the dental experts at First Family Dental take an impression of your tooth, which they send off to a lab for the custom manufacture of your crown.
When your crown is ready, you simply return to First Family Dental to have your dentist bond it in place. By placing a cap over your treated tooth, your dentist is able to protect and preserve the internal structures against further damage or infection.
If the damage to your tooth after your root canal procedure isn’t too extensive, your dentist may be able to protect it with a permanent filling in lieu of a crown.
To learn more about how a root canal procedure can preserve your dental health, call First Family Dental, or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
