Root Canal & Endodontics in Manassas

The inside of your teeth have canals that contain blood vessels, nerves, and soft pulp tissue. If the pulp becomes damaged or infected due to advanced tooth decay, you can experience significant tooth pain and discomfort.

Once the pulp tissue inside your tooth is infected, endodontic treatment becomes necessary since the tooth can't repair itself. The following are signs you may need a dental root canal:

• Pain when biting down
• Moderate to severe tooth pain that doesn't go away
• Sensitivity to touch, hot, or cold
• Swelling of the gums
• Darkening or discoloration of the affected tooth

Endodontists are a type of dentist who specializes in root canals, but they are usually consulted for complicated cases. Most procedures can be performed by your general dentist. To receive treatment from a qualified root canal dentist, call our office today to make an appointment.

The typical length of a simple root canal procedure takes about an hour or two. The following steps are usually part of the procedure:

1. Anesthesia is used to numb the tooth so you don't feel any pain.
2. To isolate the affected tooth and keep the area dry, a protective shield is placed.
3. To access the pulp chamber, a small opening is made in the top of the tooth.
4. The dentist uses small instruments to remove the damaged pulp and to clean out and shape the root canals.
5. Fluid is placed inside the tooth to disinfect it and remove any debris.
6. A rubbery compound called gutta percha is placed to fill the root canals.
7. After sealing the tooth, it's restored with a natural-looking crown.

There are many different factors that can affect the cost of endodontic treatment, such as whether you're being treated by an endodontist or general dentist and if you have dental insurance. In addition, the severity of damage to the tooth, the number of roots the affected tooth has, and which tooth requires treatment can influence your total costs. Since the front teeth have just one root, endodontic treatment costs less in comparison to molars, which have four roots and can make the procedure more complicated. After a comprehensive examination of your mouth, our dentists can provide a cost estimate. Schedule your appointment today.

A root canal crown is the most common option for this procedure, which can be performed on front teeth or molars. There are some other options available, including a pediatric pulpotomy and an apicoectomy. The dentist removes only the infected pulp during a pediatric pulpotomy, leaving the nerves intact. If your first endodontic procedure is not successful, your dentist may recommend an apicoectomy, which removes the top portion of the tooth's root.

To make sure that your procedure is as painless as possible, local anesthetics are used before beginning treatment. If you're experiencing mouth pain or other uncomfortable dental symptoms, please call our office right away. With a root canal in Manassas, our dentists can help you find relief from mouth pain.