Root Canal Therapy in Milford MA

A root canal is an endodontic procedure. In other words, it is used to treat problems inside a tooth.

The tissue inside your tooth is called the pulp. Unlike the hard outer shell, the pulp is soft. It can suffer injury or infection. When that happens, the pulp needs to come out.

Root canal dentists replace the soft tissue with a dental substance called gutta-percha. It fills in the space and allows your tooth to stay strong and functional.

When bacteria makes its way into your tooth pulp, the infection can grow and spread. An abscess may develop. Tooth infections can happen if you have a cavity that doesn’t get filled right away. Chips or cracks in your teeth can also let bacteria in. Eventually, you may need a root canal.

Tooth injuries can also require root canal therapy. For instance, getting hit in the mouth or falling on your face could loosen or dislodge your tooth. Traumatic injuries can fracture the root or cause other internal damage. To save the tooth, Dr Tony Tong might perform a root canal.

If you don’t get a root canal to treat an infection or an injury, your tooth might need to be pulled. Whenever possible, saving the tooth is usually a better choice than extracting it. Keeping the tooth in place preserves your smile and keeps your jawbone strong. Plus, a root canal is typically less expensive than implants or dentures.

It’s normal to feel a bit nervous before a root canal, but you are in good hands with our Milford dental team. Knowing what to expect may help you prepare.

Here’s what’s involved in a root canal:

1. Our dental team gets ready for the procedure by taking x-rays. We also administer an anesthetic and, if needed, a sedative medication.
2. The dentist makes an access hole in your tooth.
3. The pulp is removed from the tooth.
4. We clean the canal and reshape it.
5. Gutta-percha is cemented into the canal.
6. The tooth is sealed shut.

Most patients need a crown after a root canal. The crown is a protective cap that goes over your tooth to protect it. Because we match it to your tooth color and carefully size it, the crown will look just like your original tooth.

Root canal therapy is a common procedure. However, some teeth require complex care. For example, molars are located at the back of your mouth and have multiple roots. For molar root canals, you need to be treated by an experienced surgeon, such as Dr Tony Tong of Union Dental.

In fact, Union Dental in Shrewsbury has the skill and expertise to be your family’s full-service dental provider. In addition to general dentistry and root canal therapy, we also specialize in porcelain dental veneers, titanium dental implants, complex wisdom tooth extractions and Zoom! whitening procedures. Schedule your Shrewsbury, Worcester, Marlborough or Milford appointment today.