Root Canal Treatment in Federal Hill

What a root canal treats

Inside every tooth there is a soft core of nerve and blood vessels. When decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, that core becomes infected, and an infection inside a tooth does not clear up on its own.

A root canal removes the infected tissue from inside the tooth, cleans out the canals that held it, and seals them. The tooth stays in your mouth, which is the point of doing it.

Signs you might need one

The usual ones are pain that lingers after something hot or cold rather than fading straight away, an ache when you bite on a particular tooth, tenderness in the gum near it, or swelling. A tooth that has darkened can also be a sign.

Pain that stops is not proof the problem stopped. Sometimes the nerve simply dies, and the infection continues quietly.

About the reputation

Root canals have a worse name than they deserve. The pain people associate with them is usually the infection that sent them to the dentist in the first place. The treatment is what deals with that pain.

The appointment itself is done under local anesthetic and feels much like having a deep filling done.

What happens at your appointment

The tooth is numbed and isolated, the infected tissue is removed, the canals are cleaned and shaped, and then they are sealed. Dr. Ellis does root canals herself here, so you are not referred out to a specialist you have never met.

Whether it takes one visit or more depends on the tooth and on how much infection there is. She will tell you which it is likely to be before starting.

Afterwards

The tooth is usually sore for a few days while the tissue around the root settles. A treated tooth is more brittle than a living one, so a crown is often recommended afterwards, particularly on a back tooth doing the chewing.

Cost and insurance

Most plans cover part of the cost. Check yours on the Insurance Plans Accepted page, or call 443-420-0181.