Root Canal Specialist

Northwest Dental and Denture

General Dentists located in Everett, WA & Bellingham, WA

Men and women who learn they need a root canal often become anxious over the procedure in anticipation. The experienced dental team at Northwest Dental wants you to know a root canal doesn’t have to be an anxiety-ridden, excessively painful experience. With offices in Bellingham, Burlington, Arlington, Everett, and Oak Harbor, Washington, the experienced dental team at Northwest Dental perform root canals on a routine basis. If you’re concerned about having a root canal, call the office closest to you or schedule an appointment online.

Root Canal Q & A

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure that is meant to relieve pain and save your tooth. If your tooth becomes severely infected from inside, one of the experienced dentists at Northwest Dental removes the bacteria and any dying or dead tissue. This way, they can save your tooth and help ease your pain.

What causes the root of a tooth to become infected?

Roots and tissue inside your teeth can become infected with bacteria as a result of an injury to the tooth or from a cavity that is left untreated. If you don’t visit the dentist, the infected tissue may spread into the root or pulp of the tooth. This can cause a host of other problems if the infection spreads any further, so be sure to seek treatment.

What are the symptoms of an infected tooth?

An infected tooth can become very painful relatively quickly, especially if you don’t take care of it in a timely manner. Some typical symptoms of an infected tooth include:

Inflamed gums
Tooth soreness, especially when chewing
Extreme tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
Bad breath
Pus coming from around the tooth
Painful throbbing in your mouth or jaw
Darkening color of the tooth
A small pimple-like bump on your gum

How is a root canal performed?

Typically, one of the highly skilled dentists at Northwest Dental can take care of your tooth in one or two visits. You may first require an X-ray to determine the extent of damage to the tooth needing the root canal.

At your appointment, one of the dentists at Northwest Dental uses a needle to numb the area with a local anesthetic. Sometimes they put a small sheet of rubber, or dental dam, around the tooth to protect it and keep it clean during the procedure. Once your tooth is numb, the dentist creates a tiny opening in your tooth to access the area of infection inside the root.

Next, your dentist uses small files to remove the damaged and diseased pulp and irrigates the area with water to wash away any debris. Once all the infected material is removed, your dentist either seals the tooth or puts in a temporary filling to protect your tooth until you come back for a permanent crown.

If you have any signs or symptoms of a tooth infection, call the most convenient Northwest Dental location or schedule a consultation online.

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