Why Would I Need a Root Canal in Parma Heights?

Your dentists in Parma Heights, Drs. Vladimir Khramoy and Dr. Caroline Salib, transform painful, infected or otherwise damaged teeth into healthy smiles with endodontic therapy. Otherwise known as a “root canal,” endodontics in Parma Heights removes infected pulp and preserves healthy tooth structure.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy extracts the soft pulp from one or more inner chambers of an infected or extensively decayed tooth. Instead of pulling a tooth that is throbbing, surrounded by red swollen gums and causing bad breath and drainage, the dentist at Advanced Dental Center brings it to full health and function with this precise restorative treatment.

The American Association of Endodontists says approximately 15 million root canals are performed each year in the United States. That’s a lot of teeth saved for additional years of service. Dentists prefer to preserve as much natural tooth structure as they can rather than extracting teeth.

The Root Canal Treatment

Typically, root canal treatment takes two one-hour dental visits. Contrary to its reputation, root canal therapy is quite comfortable and usually requires only local anesthesia to numb the area.

After confirming the diagnosis with visual inspection and digital X-rays, the dentist drills a small hole into the root canal, or interior pulp chamber. He or she uses several tiny files to extract the diseased connective tissue, blood supply and nerves. Also, the dentist smoothes the canal walls.

Then, the doctor instills an antibiotic to heal any infection. He or she fills and seals the tooth with rubbery and biocompatible gutta-percha. The process is repeated on other root canals as needed. The dentist finishes the procedure by placing a temporary filling or crown over the tooth to protect it while it heals.

After The Procedure

After root canal therapy, the tooth heals over the next seven to ten days. Over the counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen relieves minor discomfort, and patients eat soft diets (soups, mashed potatoes) for a day or two.

At the next appointment, Dr. Salib or Khramoy places a custom-fabricated ceramic crown over the restored tooth. At Advanced Dental Care, the dentists offer beautiful CEREC same-day crowns which fit and bite perfectly right out of the chairside milling machine. At this point, the restoration is complete. The patient has a well-functioning and healthy tooth that should serve him or her for years.

A tooth restored with endodontics functions well without its inner pulp. This soft tissue plays an important development role in childhood and adolescence, but in adulthood, the tooth doesn’t need it.

Are You Concerned about a Tooth?

If so, call Dr. Khramoy or Dr. Salib immediately. A root canal is a tried and true restorative procedure, especially when performed by the skilled team at Advanced Dental Center. Contact the office staff if the need arises, and schedule your six-month check-up and professional cleaning, too.