A dental root canal procedure is a procedure in which the diseased pulp of a damaged or decayed tooth is removed and the space is filled and sealed. A root canal procedure might take more than one office visit and may be performed by an endodontist or a dentist, depending on the patient's particular situation. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis, causes, treatment and prevention of injuries and diseases in the nerve of the tooth.

Are you in need of a dental root canal procedure? Do you need a check up to determine if you may possibly need to have a root canal procedure done? Make an appointment today with a Phoenix, Arizona dentist.

Although symptoms of a root canal are not always present, some things to look out for include:

•  Swelling or tender gums near the infected tooth
•  A darkening of the infected tooth
•  Severe toothache
•  Prolonged sensitivity

If you are told that you need a root canal, the first step for this procedure is that an x-ray is taken to determine if there's any infection in surrounding bone and also to see the shape of the root canals. After the area is numbed, a rubber dam is placed around the tooth to keep the area dry and free of saliva. After an access hole is drilled into the problematic tooth, the pulp, decayed nerve tissue, and bacteria are then removed from the tooth. This is done using root canal files.

After removing all bacteria and debris from the tooth, it is then sealed. In some cases, however, such as when there is an infection present, the dentist may choose to put medication inside the tooth and then seal it with a temporary filling. The patient will be required to return soon to have the tooth permanently sealed. Additionally, depending on the severity of the decay, a completed root canal procedure may require the placement of a crown in order to prevent it from breaking.

Are you in need of a dental root canal procedure? Do you need a check up to determine if you may possibly need to have a root canal procedure done? Make an appointment today with a Phoenix, Arizona dentist.