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2700 S. Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona 85282-3847

Root Canal Treatment
Dentist Tempe, AZ

Mature man with a big, happy grin holding a tennis ball and raquet after receiving root canal treatment in Tempe from Dr. Thomas at A Great Smile Arizona

There are many causes of oral health problems, some of which require root canal procedures to fix. A root canal procedure is necessary if your tooth root is infected with severe infection. Our experts at A Great Smile Arizona will perform a root canal procedure that will help restore your oral health.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal refers to an advanced oral procedure involving the removal of infected pulp or soft tissue from within the roots of an infected tooth. The fact that the procedure is done in the root canal explains why it is named so. The dental pulp is at the heart of your tooth. It contains connective blood vessels, nerves, tissues, and cells. Whenever the dental pulp sustains an infection, you will experience extreme pain due to pressure and sensitivity. Chewing and biting will become uncomfortable and almost impossible. Our experts will help fix the situation by performing a root canal procedure.

How Do You Know if You Need a Root Canal?

Not everyone can qualify for a root canal procedure. This is because there are specific conditions that require this procedure. Knowing signs that show you need a root canal procedure will help you make an informed decision. If you notice any of these symptoms, you must come in for treatment as soon as possible.

•	Sensitive teeth: If you notice a piercing sharp pain when you eat or drink something hot or cold, it could be a sign that the nerves in your tooth pulp are infected or damaged. Therefore, you will need a root canal procedure to revert the condition.
•	Persistent pain: An infection in your tooth pulp will trigger pain that doesn't go away. You will experience pain deep in your tooth, making it challenging to chew food. You might also experience significant pain in parts of the jaw, face, or nearby teeth. Even though the pain caused by root infections remains persistent most of the time, it might go away for a while, but it will always come back.
•	Discolored teeth: You will also know you need a root canal procedure if you get tooth discoloration. An infection in your tooth pulp makes the tooth become discolored. Aggressive trauma in the internal tissues of your tooth can make the tooth look grayish-black. This is a sign that you need a root canal.
•	Swollen gums: You might develop swollen gums around the area of the infected tooth. Any signs of swollen gums mean you need a root canal. Even though the swelling may come and go by itself, it clearly signals that you need treatment. The affected gums might be tender or painful to the touch.

How is a Root Canal Procedure Done?

We perform the root canal procedure in several steps. Before getting started, we will take a dental x-ray of the infected tooth to see the extent of the damage. An x-ray also helps us decide whether a root canal procedure is the right treatment option. Then, after applying local anesthesia, we will make an opening in the crown of the infected tooth. Our team uses extremely small instruments to clean the pulp from the root canals and pulp chamber. During the cleaning, we also shape the space for filling.
Once we clean and shape the infected tooth, we will fill its root canal with a biocompatible material. To ensure the root canals are sealed comprehensively, we place the gutta-percha with adhesive cement. A temporary filling is used to seal the opening on your tooth crown. Our team will carefully remove the temporary filling before we restore the tooth. This process is done with extremely high precision to ensure accuracy.

How Long Does a Root Canal Take?

It takes one to two appointments to complete a root canal procedure, depending on the level of damage to your teeth. It takes us between 30 minutes to an hour to complete a root canal procedure. If the procedure is being performed on a tooth with several roots, the time increases to around one and a half hours.

Do Root Canals Hurt?

Despite most people's belief that root canals are painful, they are not. This is because we use a local anesthetic to numb the extraction. With the source of your pain being removed, you will feel immediate relief right after the procedure. You don't have to worry about feeling pain during a root canal procedure. Any discomfort after the procedure can also be managed.

How Long Does a Root Canal Take to Heal?

It takes less than a week to heal from a root canal procedure. During the first few days, you might experience some pain and discomfort that you can manage with medication. If the discomfort or pain doesn't go away after a week, contact us right away.

How to Avoid a Root Canal

You can easily avoid root canal infections by adhering to various practices. For instance, you should maintain high standards of oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. You should also avoid sticky foods that might damage your teeth. Our team recommends avoiding acidic and sugary foods to maintain good oral health.

Can You Drive After Root Canal Treatment?

You can drive after a root canal treatment. However, it is best to avoid driving if you have blurry vision after the procedure.

Can You Eat After a Root Canal?

You can eat 30 to 50 minutes after a root canal procedure. This time is enough to allow the temporary filling to harden fully. You shouldn't eat immediately after the procedure because it might distort healing and cause bleeding.

Can You Smoke After a Root Canal?

Smoking is strongly prohibited after a root canal procedure. Smoking can significantly delay the recovery process and increase the chances of bleeding. Besides, it tampers with the wound and could trigger severe toothaches.

Schedule a Root Canal Appointment Today!

You will need a root canal procedure if you have an infection in your tooth root. Our experts at A Great Smile Arizona are ready to help you attain good oral health by performing advanced root canal procedures. We use new technology to make the process as smooth as possible. Call us today at (480) 672-0007 to schedule an appointment.

Location
2700 S. Rural Road
Tempe, AZ 85282-3847

Office Hours
Monday: 7am - 4pm
Tuesday: 9am - 6pm
Wednesday: 7am - 4pm
Thursday: 9am - 6pm
Friday: 9am - 1pm

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Root Canal Procedure - Tempe, AZ | A Great Smile Arizona
In Tempe, we offer root canal treatment & therapy to save teeth that are infected & would otherwise require tooth extraction.
A Great Smile Arizona, 2700 S. Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 \ (480) 672-0007 \ agreatsmileaz.com \ 3/28/2023 \ Tags: dentist Tempe AZ \

Root Canal Treatment Dentist Tempe, AZ