Man with tooth pain, in need of a root canal

Root Canal Therapy

Are tooth pain and temperature sensitivity interfering with your life?

You may have an oral health infection that requires root canal treatment. 

The doctors at DentaCare Group in Downtown Edmonton, AB, have been treating root canal infections for almost 50 years combined.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

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A root canal procedure is an effective and recommended way to clear the infection from the root canal without extracting a tooth. A root canal infection can cause unwanted pain, but root canal therapy can provide relief to patients.

How Does an Infection Form in the Tooth?

A root canal infection often starts from a cavity. The cavity can form on the top of the tooth at first. If not treated, the cavity will migrate down to the tooth's middle layer and eventually into the pulp chamber of the tooth. This chamber is filled with pulp, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels. From here, bacteria trapped in the pulp chamber and root canals can make for a painful infection.

A Closer Look at a Root Canal Infection

A cavity can turn into a root canal infection if ignored for a prolonged period. Regular dental health checkups are essential for detecting infections and maintaining your oral health.

"Root canal treatment... is an effective and safe treatment for teeth whose pulp has become inflamed or infected." Canadian Dental Association

Signs You Need a Root Canal Procedure

Knowing the signs of a root canal infection can help you get into the dentist sooner, clear the bacteria that's causing a root canal infection, and salvage your natural tooth.

  • Toothache
  • Sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Swelling in gums or face
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Small bump on the gums
  • Sudden bad taste in your mouth

Early Intervention is Vital 

Early intervention can be vital to stopping the spread of the infection and relieving persistent pain. If you have any symptoms of a root canal infection, act fast by scheduling a consultation with our dental office in Downtown Edmonton, AB. Call us at:

(780) 428-6846

Or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

Root Canal Benefits

Patients of Downtown Edmonton, AB, can greatly benefit from a root canal procedure and are in good hands with Dr. Podilsky and his team.

Stops Tooth Pain

If the source of your toothache stems from a root canal infection, a root canal treatment is the only way to stop the pain permanently. With local anesthesia to numb the pain, root canal treatment is virtually painless so that you can leave the dental office with less discomfort. 

Eliminates the Need for Extraction

The tooth may need to be extracted to prevent the spread of the infection if an infection in the root canal is not treated promptly. Extraction is always a dentist's last resort. A root canal procedure can help you maintain the exterior structure of your natural tooth.

Prevents Further Dental Health Issues

When a root canal infection is not dealt with, the pain will worsen as the infection spreads. Avoiding treatment can cause the root canal infection to migrate to adjacent teeth and gum tissue. Worsening your initial problem, if the infection grows beyond repair, it can result in multiple root canal treatments or extractions. Receiving a prompt root canal can restore your oral health.

Step-by-Step Process of Root Canal Treatment

A common myth is that root canals are excruciatingly painful. However, the area is numbed with local anesthesia, making the procedure virtually painless. 
A common myth is that root canals are excruciatingly painful. However, the area is numbed with local anesthesia, making the procedure virtually painless. 

Form a Plan with a Consultation

The treatment starts with a consultation at our Downtown Edmonton, AB, office. Here, our dentist will look at the state of your teeth and verify if a root canal procedure is the best step moving forward. If a root canal is necessary, our team will get you back into the dental office for treatment as soon as possible.

Relax with Sedation Options

On the day of your root canal, sedation options are available to calm nerves that come with the procedure. Our dentists will use local anesthesia on every root canal patient before treatment begins. We also offer nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, to calm patients' anxieties. This way, the procedure will be virtually painless. 

Creating a Pathway into the Pulp Chamber

The root canal dental procedure follows a four-step process. The first step is creating a pathway into the tooth to reach the pulp. A small access hole is drilled in the tooth from the outside to access the pulp chamber.

Removing the Pulp

After creating a pathway, the dentist will clean out the pulp and bacteria in your pulp chamber and root canals. The dentist will also disinfect the inside of the tooth at this point. 

Filling the Pulp Chamber

After the infection in the pulp of your tooth is cleared, the dentist will need to fill the remaining space. A rubber-like material called gutta-percha is placed inside the pulp chamber.

Sealing the Access Point

Lastly, the dentist will seal off the small access point initially opened to reach the pulp chamber and root canal. Dr. Podilsky can often cover the access point with a filling, but in some cases, a crown is needed to protect the tooth's integrity.

A Close-Up Look at the Root Canal Process

Thanks to technology and medication, a root canal procedure at our Downtown Edmonton, AB, office is virtually painless.

​"The best way to prevent the need for root canal treatment is to follow a good oral hygiene routine by brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and to visit your dentist regularly." Canadian Dental Association

Crowning the Natural Tooth

Following this dental procedure, the tooth is weakened from losing the supportive inner tissue. In some cases, a crown is the recommended option for protecting the tooth. If Dr. Podilsky and his team recommend a crown, you have two options that can work with your budget. DentaCare Group offers traditional crowns and crowns made with CEREC® same-day technology. 

Traditional Crown

Our traditional crowns are made in a laboratory using traditional impressions of your bite. After your root canal treatment, the dentist will apply a temporary prosthesis to your tooth while you wait for your restoration to return from the lab. 

CEREC Crown

If you'd prefer to have a root canal treatment and crown your tooth on the same day, our dental office can use CEREC technology to craft a crown the same day of your appointment. The CEREC machine is an in-office design and milling machine that creates your crown in a matter of minutes. Leave our dental office in Downtown Edmonton, AB, with a fully restored tooth. 

Live Life Without Tooth Pain

Tooth pain can distract you from your life. Rather than mitigating the symptoms with pain relievers and gritting your teeth through the pain, solve the issue with a root canal treatment. Patients in the Downtown Edmonton, AB, area have turned to DentaCare Group to treat their root canal infections and rid persistent tooth pain. Act soon by scheduling a consultation at our phone number:

(780) 428-6846

Or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

Office

What's the Cost of Root Canal Treatment?

The cost of the root canal varies depending on the severity of the case. Most insurance plans cover the cost of a root canal. Our dental office in Downtown Edmonton, AB, will let you know all your financial options when moving forward with a root canal. 

Root Canal Myths Debunked

A Root Canal Procedure is Painful.

A common myth is that root canals are excruciatingly painful. However, the area is numbed with local anesthesia, making the procedure virtually painless. The procedure ends up being similar to a simple cavity filling.

You Need to See an Endodontist.

False. Often, dental offices will refer patients to endodontists specializing in treating root canals. However, Dr. Podilsky, while not an endodontist, has the training and experience required to perform your root canal from the comfort of our Downtown Edmonton, AB, dental office. 

An Extraction is Better than Root Canal Treatment.

This myth is incorrect for a variety of reasons. Extraction is always the last resort option for dentists. It's best to preserve the natural tooth to avoid further oral health complications. Costly restorative dental procedures, such as dental implants, are needed to restore your oral health after an extraction. With root canal treatment, you can avoid additional dental procedures and costs. 

A Root Canal Treatment is Expensive.

Root canal procedures are the most cost-effective treatment for teeth damaged by an infection. Root canal procedures are often covered by insurance, and they stop patients from having to undergo more extensive restorative procedures. Restorative dental procedures, such as implants, are more expensive than root canal procedures and are not covered by insurance.

"False claims about root canal treatment is harmful because it creates undue fear, or confusion among patients and their families which can lead to delays in seeking treatment and result in the loss of otherwise treatable teeth." Canadian Dental Association
Dr. Podilsky

Dr. Podilsky Is Dedicated to Personalized Care

Dr. Podilsky is qualified to care for your smile:

  • Over 40 years of experience
  • Membership with the Canadian Dental Association
  • Dedicated to ongoing training 
  • Membership with the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta

To schedule your consultation, contact us online or call us today at (780) 428-6846.

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