Root Canal Dentist in Edmonds

Repair & Save Decayed or Infected Teeth with a Root Canal

Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Years ago, diseased or injured teeth were usually pulled, but today these teeth can often be saved through a root canal (endodontic) treatment. Root canals are a common dental treatment to help save your tooth or teeth from extraction when they are decayed or infected.

Our Edmonds dentist wants you to be as relaxed as possible during your visit and throughout your proceduer. Pain-free procedures are our goal and we do our best to maximize your comfort and minimize your fears. With today’s technology we can offer root canals without any pain.

Signs & Symptoms for Possible Root Canal Treatment

If you experience any of the following, you may need a root canal:

• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Severe toothache pain when chewing or application of pressure
• Discoloration (darkening) of the tooth
• Swelling and/or tenderness
• Redness and swelling of the gums around the tooth
• An abscess (or pimple) on the gums

DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT HURTS.
Often patients are anxious about a root canal procedure or have heard horror stories from people they know but a root canal treatment can be as comfortable as a dental filling procedure. The key is to address the problem tooth before pain and swelling occur. We also offer sedation dentistry to help alleviate any discomfort during any dental treatments including root canals.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, call our experienced team at Emerald City Smiles in Edmonds to find out if you are in need of endodontic therapy. We offer consultations with Dr. Marcus for new patients.

Reasons for Root Canal Therapy

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)
• Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
• Injury or trauma to the tooth

Root canals are used to save the tooth, the pulp, and nerves. During a root canal, bacteria and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials which restore the tooth to its full function.

What Does a Root Canal Treatment Involve?

Root canal treatments can take more than one visit to our dental practice. Below are the steps involved in a root canal.

• The tooth is numbed for your comfort and a thin sheet of latex rubber is placed over the tooth to keep it dry.
• The tooth’s nerve (or pulp) is removed from the pulp chamber and root canal (the space inside the root). Each root is cleaned and shaped so it can be filled
• Medicine may be placed inside the pulp chamber and root canal to help get rid of bacteria
• The root canals are filled with a rubber-like material to seal them
• A temporary filling is placed in the tooth which prevents contamination of the root canals. If the infection has spread beyond the end of the roots, we may give you antibiotics.
• The temporary filling is removed and the tooth is restored with a crown or filling to strengthen to the tooth and improve the way it looks.

Root canals usually take about 1-2 hours depending upon each patient’s dental needs and complications. Root canals have a high success rate with rare complications and our staff will schedule any necessary follow up visits to make sure that you have fully recovered.

How Long Does the Restored Tooth Last?

When restored properly, a tooth with a root canal filling can last for many years.

What is the Recovery for a Root Canal?

Root canal recovery can vary from a few days to a few weeks. The recovery period from this treatment depends on the number of visits needed to complete the root canal procedure.

Choose maximum comfort and superior care at Emerald City Smiles in Edmonds.

Don’t wait for your damaged or decayed tooth to cause you even more pain and oral damage. Our experienced dental team can help. Call today to schedule your appointment at our Mountlake Terrace dental practice which is located immediately off I-5. We offer consultations with Dr. Marcus for new patients.