Root Canal Treatment Cambridge
Saving Natural Teeth & Erasing Your Dental Pain
Many of our patients who hear that they need a root canal are surprised at how comfortable and effective treatment is. Although this procedure has a bad reputation in the media, it’s not as scary as you may think. Our team prioritizes your comfort and uses gentle hands to rid your tooth of infection so you can continue using it as you normally would for years to come. If you have a severe toothache, call our office today to schedule a same-day emergency examination and learn whether root canal treatment in Cambridge is right for you.
Why Choose Harbor Dental Center for Root Canal Treatment?
- Oral Conscious Sedation Available for Your Comfort
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Examinations
- High-Quality, Natural-Looking Dental Crowns
What Happens During a Root Canal?
The root canal process takes place in two visits to our office. First, Dr. Todd or Dr. Bhatt will gain access to the inner chamber of your tooth where your infected pulp is located by creating a small window in the crown. Our team will remove the infected pulp and cleanse the chamber to make sure no bacteria are left behind before closing it back up. Using a putty-like antimicrobial material called gutta percha, we will seal off the chamber to minimize the chance of re-infection. Usually, after a root canal, a crown is needed to rebuild the tooth structure and protect it from fracture, so an impression is taken for the dental lab to make you a beautiful, new dental crown that will be placed at your next appointment.
Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
When you receive root canal treatment, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- Gentle and comfortable treatment
- Preserve your natural tooth and prevent the need for more intensive procedures
- More cost-effective and efficient than removing a tooth and placing an implant
- A beautiful, natural-looking result
- Erase your toothache and improve your comfort
Root Canal FAQs
Can Root Canals Make You Sick?
There is no scientific evidence that supports the claim that well-done root canals can lead to cancer or similar systemic diseases. The myth that it does stems from research conducted back in the 1920s, but it was poorly conducted. Plus, the findings have been disproven on several occasions. In fact, research has linked having root canals to lower cancer risk. Root canals are done to remove infection, which prevents systemic infection, and allow you to keep your tooth. These is a possibility of root canal teeth getting re-infected, which is why we monitor root canals regularly to make sure the bone around them is healthy and there is no sign of re-infection.
We always recommend bringing any questions or concerns you have to our emergency dentist. They’d be happy to provide further insight and answers so you feel completely confident moving forward with your treatment plan.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal If My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
Simply put, pain isn’t the only symptom of a badly decayed or damaged tooth. In fact, if the infection is left alone, it can kill the nerve, rendering it unable to register pain. So, it’s important that you get the restorative care you need sooner rather than later, even if the situation doesn’t seem urgent.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
Usually, yes! The easiest way to reduce your chances of needing a root canal is by prioritizing preventive care, like brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. It’s also important that you come to our Cambridge dental office every six months for an exam so we can catch oral health problems that do surface in the early stages.
What Happens If I Don’t Get a Root Canal?
If you struggle with dental anxiety, you have a fear of needles, or you’re worried about the cost, you might be tempted to take the “wait and see” approach. However, the longer you wait to get the care you need, the more time the infection has to progress. As we mentioned above, this can lead to several problems, including the nerve of your tooth dying. Eventually, there will even come a point where saving your tooth is no longer possible. For all of these reasons, we recommend scheduling the necessary restorative care quickly.
I am Scared of the Dentist. What Should I Do?
Dental anxiety is more common than you may think, and it’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Whether yours stems from a bad experience at a different office or because the sights, sounds, and smells of the practice put you on edge, let us know! From there, we can determine how to give you the comfortable, positive experience you deserve, like adding sedation dentistry to your treatment plan.
Can I Eat Before My Root Canal?
If you are being sedated for the procedure, then we will likely recommend fasting beforehand. Otherwise, you can eat a healthy, well-balanced meal that’s low in added sugar. Just make sure to brush and floss your teeth when you’re done!