ROOT CANAL THERAPY

Root canal therapy (RCT) is a procedure that relieves pain and allows the patient to keep the damaged tooth, rather than having it extracted. Dr. Lane uses microtools for a precision procedure and offers anesthesia and sedation options for optimal patient comfort. At our Wasilla Alaska office, root canal treatment is only recommended when a tooth is infected internally, in which case any other restorative treatment will not be effective. The only alternative to RCT is tooth extraction.

If you’ve been told that you need root canal therapy or you’re suffering from a nagging, unyielding toothache, call Lane Family Dental in Wasilla, Alaska today at 907-373-2200. Dr. Lane will take x-rays, examine your mouth, and explain his findings so that you will have all the facts when deciding on the best treatment for your infected tooth.

When does a tooth need RCT?

The center chamber and canals in the roots of teeth carry a nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. These components are cumulatively known as the dental pulp, and they are sterile. A cavity or fracture that extends through tooth enamel and dentin will ultimately penetrate the tooth’s center chamber and allow bacteria to enter. A failing filling or crown, or new fracture or decay, can lead to the need for root canal therapy 

Bacteria that infiltrate the tooth’s core create infection in the pulp. As infection grows, pressure builds, compressing the dental nerve. This creates an increasing toothache, which is commonly the primary symptom that drives a patient to the dentist’s office. Simply repairing the damaged tooth with a crown will not suffice, because the core of the tooth has been compromised.

What does root canal treatment involve?

To remove infection within a tooth’s chamber and canals, Dr. Lane must perform root canal therapy in his Wasilla, Alaska office. After ensuring your comfort, he will enter the tooth and extract all bacteria and infected tissues. The tooth’s inner components will then be sterilized before a rubberlike substance called gutta-percha will be inserted. Gutta-percha fills the tooth’s chamber and canals to provide internal support. Completing the procedure, Dr. Lane will attach a temporary dental crown over the affected tooth. You’ll return in a few weeks to receive your permanent crown.

What happens if I wait too long?

Left untreated, an infection within a tooth can spread to the jawbone, cause abscesses, and/or enter the bloodstream to impact overall health negatively. Treating the tooth with antibiotics is not a solution to the problem, because infection will cause the tooth’s nerve and blood vessels to die. Those tissues will not heal. Through the initial crack or cavity, bacteria will continue to have direct access to the tooth’s core; therefore, the infection will return. People have been known to die as a result of untreated tooth infections.

Oftentimes, waiting to have a root canal done at our Wasilla dental office creates an emergency dental situation, in which the patient experiences significant pain until he or she can be treated by a dentist.

Schedule Now to Find Relief and Save Your Tooth

If you have been diagnosed with an infected tooth and told that you need root canal therapy, you can seek a second opinion. If the infection has not breached a tooth’s core, alternative treatment is possible. Dr. Lane will conduct a thorough evaluation of your oral health, then explain his findings and the viable treatment options. Our team’s goal is to help you restore good oral health, then maintain it. First, however, we will get you out of pain! Call Lane Family Dental in Wasilla, Alaska today at 907-373-2200 to schedule your appointment.