Don River Dental

This is the most frequently asked question, but actually these procedures are very comfortable. In truth, most patients feel immediate relief from pain after their root canal procedure because the source of their toothache is removed.

Root canals are necessary when dental decay or damage accesses the tooth’s nerve. The entire nerve system of the tooth is housed within the interior, pulp, layers of teeth. When damage reaches this inner layer accessing the nerve, patients experience the severe toothache and dental sensitivity that earned root canal therapy its bad reputation.

A trip to the dentist or a dental specialist is the only way to know for sure that you’ll need a root canal. However, the majority of patients need root canal therapy on an emergency basis, so please let us know if you’re experiencing any of the following concerns: Toothache – dull throbbing and/or sharp pain when biting down Temperature sensitivity – lingering pain when tooth is exposed to heat or cold Discoloration – the damaged tooth may darken in color, especially near the gums Gum infection or inflammation – you may notice swelling, sores, or infection in the soft tissue around the tooth

When we determine you need a root canal, we’ll numb the area around the damaged tooth immediately. Then, we drill an access hole from the top of the tooth to the pulp. The entire pulp and nerve are removed as well as any other damaged tooth structure. If you have a severe infection, we may prescribe a course of oral or topical antibiotics before we completely repair the smile. Once you are free from infection, the tooth is refilled with a biocompatible substance. Then, the access hole is resealed. Finally, we will typically place a dental crown to protect and strengthen the treated tooth

The procedure itself can take one to three hours depending on the individual case. If we need to provide antibiotic treatment before we complete the procedure, this can add several days to a week to the overall process. Finally, you may need to return for a second appointment to receive a custom dental crown, even if we don’t need to use antibiotics before completing the root canal itself. These follow up visits are quick and painless. We simply remove the temporary crown and cement your permanent restoration in place.

After a root canal, you may have some sensitivity and inflammation around the treatment site, but most patients report immediate relief from the severe toothache and sensitivity they experienced prior to treatment. If you notice severe swelling and inflammation around the tooth or your pain increases, contact our dental office immediately.

Root canals do fail at times. This is very rare for front teeth, which have a 97% root canal success rate. Large back teeth, molars, have a slightly lower success rate of 85%. In most cases, root canals fail because some small portion of the infected tissue is left behind during treatment. We use all the latest technology to limit the risk for root canal failure, but when it does happen, our on-site endodontist provides retreatment that can allow us to save damaged teeth. Because we have an endodontist on our team, your root canal procedures are always performed by a specialist, which dramatically reduces your chances for complications.

The good news is that just about any adult who is in generally good health and is missing teeth can be a good candidate for dental implants. No wonder they’re so popular! Typically, there are three things that your implant dentist in Scarborough looks for when determining your eligibility for dental implants: Adequate overall health – Getting dental implants requires oral surgery, so you must be healthy enough to undergo minor surgery. Good oral health – Any pre-existing oral health conditions, such as cavities or gum disease, should be addressed before dental implant placement. Otherwise, they could jeopardize the success of your procedure. Jawbone density – Dental implants require a strong jawbone to serve as their foundation. If your jawbone has deteriorated after tooth loss, it won’t be able to give your implants the support they need. If you don’t meet all of the qualifications at f…