Root Canals Philadelphia

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If you need a root canal, and you’re in the Philadelphia area, call us at (610) 272-0828 to make an appointment or request an appointment online.

What Is A Root Canal?

If you have a tooth that is severely infected and/or damaged, a root canal is usually a necessary procedure in order to protect your oral health and the health of other teeth. The living part of the tooth, also known as the pulp, is made up of blood vessels and nerves. The pulp is located within the pulp chamber which not only houses the pulp but is connected to the roots. The pulp and pulp chamber can become infected due to:

• Decay (cavities)
• Trauma that damages and causes inflammation of the pulp
• Deep fillings that have to be placed near the pulp chamber
• Unexplained reasons – sometimes the pulp just dies with no known cause

During a root canal procedure, both the pulp and nerve are removed from the canal inside of the root. The root is then cleaned, filled, and sealed to ensure that bacteria and other harmful agents are kept outside of the root.

The Root Canal Procedure

Before we can recommend a root canal to any patient, Dr. Siegel closely examines the patient’s dental history. We also perform a thorough examination of your present oral and dental health with the help of low-radiation, digital dental x-rays. With digital x-rays, we can decide, without a doubt, whether or not a specific tooth requires a root canal. We also utilize our PreXion Excelsior cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to diagnose infected teeth. CBCT allows us to examine the area around a tooth in great detail and in three dimensions. That way, we can see the signs of developing infection and know exactly how to treat it.

With the help of local anesthetic and top of the line rotary instruments, all of the root canals performed by our team are effective and efficient. We are able to successfully perform a root canal in just one visit which may only take up an hour of your time. While most root canals are done at other dental offices through the use of a hand file, we prefer to use motorized rotary tools due to their reliability and less-invasive nature. In the same visit, Dr. Siegel will be able to provide you with a custom dental crown that can be placed and secured.

Root Canal Revision

Root canals have a high success rate, but if they fail, it can be as serious as the original infected tooth. Being able to detect and treat a failing root canal treatment allows us to save a patient pain and discomfort. It also makes it more likely that we will be able to save the tooth in question.

Our CBCT lets us precisely diagnose a failing root canal treatment. We can determine the extent of the recurrent infection and decide whether it’s best to revise the root canal treatment or move forward with a dental implant.

How Do I Know If I Need A Root Canal?

There is a variety of symptoms that may mean that you require a root canal. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Siegel’s dental office. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Pain when you chew or bite
• Gum swelling; in some cases the gums may release pus or blood
• Extremely intense toothaches that wake you from sleep
• Toothaches that linger and worsen when you eat or drink something hot or cold
• Pain that begins in the tooth region but spreads to other body parts such as the head, jaw, or even the ear

In some cases, patients experience no symptoms at all, which means that routine visits to the dentists are a must.

If you suffer from common symptoms of a badly infected or damaged tooth, a root canal may be just the procedure you need. If you live in the Philadelphia area, don’t hesitate to call us at (610) 272-0828 to schedule an appointment. Patients can also request an appointment online or ask us a question!