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Root Canal

Paramount Dental Care

Chinatu Ego-Osuala, DDS

Dentist located in Takoma Park, MD

Over 15 million root canal procedures are performed every year on inflamed and infected teeth. If you’re in pain or notice an abscess in your mouth, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Chinatu Ego-Osuala at Paramount Dental Care in Takoma Park and Silver Springs, Maryland to find out if you need a root canal procedure to save your teeth.

Root Canal Q & A

What is root canal therapy?

Once your teeth have fully developed, the pulp in the root of the tooth, under the hard tissue -- enamel, cementum, and dentin -- is no longer needed. Your teeth get their required nutrients from the other tissue surrounding them.

Deep decay, repeated dental procedures, and faulty crowns, as well as cracks and chips, can cause tooth roots to become inflamed or infected. Tooth trauma, even without visible chips or cracks also cause pulp damage. Infected pulp in a fully developed tooth can be quite damaging and result in your losing the tooth entirely.

How is a root canal procedure performed?

Dr. Ego-Osuala takes X-rays to determine whether or not you need root canal therapy and to locate the decay.

He then injects local anesthesia into the area surrounding the affected tooth. Once the area is numb, he uses a dental dam to keep your tooth clean and dry during the procedure.

Dr. Ego-Osuala performs a pulpectomy with small tools. He begins by creating an opening in the top of your tooth. He then removes the damaged and diseased pulp from the inside of your tooth and washes out the area with water and an antimicrobial solution to help kill any remaining bacteria and reduce your risk for further infection.

Once the canal inside your tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried, Dr. Ego-Osuala fills the space with a material called gutta-percha and then seals it off with cement and a temporary crown.

A few weeks later, you return to Dr. Ego-Osuala to have your treatment completed with a permanent crown or similar type of restoration and some support posts, if needed. Dr. Ego-Osuala takes X-rays to ensure all signs of infection are gone before installing your crown.

What happens after a root canal?

To prevent fractures while waiting for your permanent crown, try not chew or bite on the treated tooth.

Otherwise, to prevent the need for further dental procedures, including more root canal procedures, it’s important to take care of your teeth and gums with good oral hygiene, by brushing, flossing, and visiting Dr. Ego-Osuala for regular checkups and cleanings twice a year.

To have your tooth pain treated with a root canal procedure, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Chinatu Ego-Osuala at Paramount Dental Care in Takoma Park, Maryland.