Modern Root Canal Therapy
The root canal is one of the cornerstone dental services offered to our Point Grey, Kitsilano and UBC patients at Alma Dental Centre. We know there is a lot of anxiety associated with treatment, but the truth is that generally, the procedure is really no more painful than getting a filling. In fact, the intense tooth ache that patients experience is likely 10 times greater than treatment.
All you need to know about Root Canals
A root canal diagnosis is usually given when the pulp of the tooth is inflamed, infected, or dead. The pulp is the soft substance in the centre of the tooth that consists of nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. X-rays typically show an abscess forming around the root of the infected tooth.
Root Canal Symptoms:
Patients usually know something is not right when they experience one, or a combination of the following symptoms:
- Spontaneous tooth aches or throbbing.
- Pain when chewing or placing pressure on the tooth.
- Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold long after the stimulus is gone.
- Visible swelling in the gum around the tooth that looks similar to a pimple.
- Leaking fluid or pus from the infected area causing a foul taste in the patient’s mouth.
The objective of a root canal treatment is to completely remove damaged tissue (pulp) from the tooth roots, which may be infected with bacteria. By completely removing the tissue, more problematic infection is prevented from spreading to the jaw bone. We carefully seal the entire pulp area in the root canals with a special compound so that any remaining bacteria do not have room to grow.
Root Canals are a part of our core focus
Root canal treatment is a cornerstone service at Alma Dental Centre. Dr Sidhu is a 7 year member of the City Centre Endodontic Study Club, and Club president for the last 5 years. At the study club, Dr. Sidhu meets with other Vancouver dentists under the mentorship of a highly experienced root canal specialist (endodontist) for hands-on and theoretical training on the latest practices and techniques for root canals.
Every case provides its own unique set of problems, which makes continuous study so vital for on-going patient care. If you are experiencing one, or a combination of the symptoms mentioned above, we encourage you to contact your dentist, or contact us for a closer examination. Alma Dental is located at the corner of 4th Ave and Alma Street, on the border for Kitsilano and Point Grey.