3301 Woodburn Road, Suite 311
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-828-0048
Fax: 703-649-0766
ROOT CANAL
Root Canals
Root Canal Specialist
Getting a root canal can be necessary in the treatment of many different dental problems. Atlantic Health Group offers root canal treatment for patients in and around Annandale, Virginia.
Root Canal Q & A
Atlantic Health Group - Root Canal Specialist in Annandale, VA
Why is root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy is a procedure where diseased tissue that has accumulated within the root canal is removed. The root canal is a chamber reaching the tooth root(s). It contains blood vessels, nerve endings, and other sensitive tissues. If this area becomes infected, severely inflamed, or dead, it can distress the roots and cause a lot of damage. Root canal therapy is used to attempt restore a problem tooth before it becomes necessary to extract it.
Why would you need a root canal?
Decay is the most common reason for root canal therapy. When the decay has progressed to the pulp chamber of the tooth, you will feel increased sensitivity, especially when you drink something hot or cold. When the decay progresses too far, bacteria can get into the pulp of the tooth and cause an infection, even an abscess, in the bone at the end of the root of your tooth. Patients are usually in pain daily and need to have the procedure to ease the pain and stop any ongoing damage. Root Canal Therapy can be beneficial if you have a damaged tooth that has become
infected. If the tooth has had a lot of other procedures, that could also require a root canal. Root canal therapy is also very successful as a restorative treatment. A tooth repaired with a root canal can last for many years, even possibly a life time.
Does a root canal hurt?
Root canal therapy has a reputation for being painful. But it’s the aching that relates to the infected tooth that causes the majority, if not all all of the pain, not the treatment. Dental techniques have come a long way in the last several years which makes the root canal considerably less painful. In fact,, in most cases, the procedure itself is painless as the patient gets numbed before procedure begins. Atlantic Health Group can provide nitrous oxide
(laughing gas) to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. The actual root canal therapy can last anywhere from 1 hour to 90 minutes and take multiple visits. This will depend on the condition of the tooth and any complications that might be involved. After the procedure, the patient can go home but it’s important to follow the post-operative instructions from your trusted Annandale dentist at Atlantic Health Group.
To find out more about root canal therapy, call or request a consultation online with a friendly family dentist at Atlantic Health Group.
