Root Canal Therapy in Houston, TX
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a restorative procedure performed to address an infected tooth. When bacteria infiltrate the inner part of the tooth, known as the dental pulp, due to untreated tooth decay or dental injury, it triggers inflammation and the formation of an abscess, which is a pus-filled pocket.
This infection indicates the need for root canal therapy to prevent the infection from worsening and spreading to neighboring teeth or the bloodstream. During the procedure, the infected pulp and roots are carefully removed, and the inside canals are thoroughly cleaned. The tooth is then filled with a special material to restore its strength and structure. Although the dental pulp is removed, the tooth can still survive by obtaining nutrients from the surrounding tissues.
In some cases, a dental crown may be recommended to protect and strengthen the treated tooth, depending on its location and strength. To explore your options and schedule a consultation, please contact us at Kimberley Lane.
Did you know…
THINK YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA?
How It Works: The Root Canal Process
Consultation
Local Anesthesia
Pulpectomy
Cleaning the Canals
Filling
Dental Crown
Root Canal Options
Anterior
Anterior root canals are performed on the front teeth. While this is less common, root canals are done a little differently in these thinner teeth with fewer canals. Firstly, we need to make an access hole in the back of the tooth to gain access to the pulp chamber because there isn’t enough space on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to make the access hole there.
After removing the infected pulp and roots, we clean the canals. The front teeth have fewer canals which often means we can do this faster and with fewer appointments. Since these teeth aren’t used for chewing, they will typically just receive a permanent filling instead of a crown.
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Have Questions About Root Canals? Find Answers Here.
