Root Canals | Surrey | Zen Dental Centre

Preserving Your Natural Smile

Root canal therapy is a dental procedure to remove infected or injured pulp, the soft centre of the tooth. When the pulp is damaged, it can lead to tooth loss. Root canal therapy removes the damaged tissue to save the structure, allowing you to keep your natural tooth.

We want to help you protect your overall health, starting with your smile. Reach out to Zen Dental Centre today so we can help keep your teeth strong and healthy.

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What Is a Root Canal?

The treatment commonly known as a root canal is named after the tooth’s inner chamber. Root canal therapy or endodontic treatment removes the pulp from the root canal.

Pulp is the tooth’s root made of nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. The root makes up two-thirds of the entire tooth, reaching into the bone to hold the tooth in place and providing nourishment to maintain tooth health.

Why Would You Need Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal therapy can help prevent tooth loss when the pulp is infected or damaged. An infection can spread from the pulp affecting tissue and bone, causing swelling, soreness, fever, or bone loss. Undetected tooth infections can also increase the risk of heart disease.

Regular dental exams can assess the health of teeth, gums, jaw, and mouth tissue to detect signs of infection, disease, or injury. That’s why it’s crucial to see your dentist after experiencing any mouth or jaw trauma.

Common Causes of Pulp Damage

Common causes of pulp damage include:

An untreated cavity causing decay
An injured, chipped, or cracked tooth
Repeated tooth trauma (biting hard food or objects)
Bruxism or teeth grinding

What Happens During a Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal therapy is a safe procedure that is successful in most cases. Allowing you to keep your natural tooth can maintain the look of your smile and jaw structure. So you can still enjoy the same feel and function.

We can complete most root canal treatments in a single appointment. Take a look at the simple procedure steps or contact our team to learn more.

Prepping the Treatment Area

We’ll start by giving you a local anesthetic (freezing). A small amount of numbing medication is applied to the gum near the affected tooth. Then, a local anesthetic is injected into the gum. You may feel a quick pinch which will pass shortly.

When appropriate, we can offer oral sedation to help make the experience more comfortable.

Removing the Pulp

First, the dentist makes a small opening on the top of the tooth to reach the root canal. Next, the pulp is removed using a fine dental instrument called a file. The canal system is carefully cleaned of any remaining pulp or bacteria. Then, the canal is filled with an artificial pulp (a rubber-like material). Finally, the opening created on the top of the tooth is sealed.

Restoring Look & Function

The final step is restoring the feel and structure of the tooth. How much restoration is needed depends on the tooth’s strength and position. You may only need a small filling, or you may benefit from a crown. For example, a back tooth (molar) needs more reinforcement than a front tooth (incisors or canines) because chewing applies more force to the tooth.

Let’s Talk About Your Tooth Health

No one wants to lose a healthy tooth or see gaps in their smile. At Zen Dental Centre, we want you to keep smiling. We’ll work with you to find a solution that serves your overall health. Book an appointment today.