Dr. Ellsworth Discusses Root Canals Read Transcript The dreaded R-word, root canal. Root canals do get a bad rap, because everybody's heard the horror stories. Not only have they heard them from their friend, everybody's got a coworker that's told them a horror story about a root canal, it's a joke on TV, so you've heard about them from a lot of different sources, and I'm sure everybody's heard some type of story. Honestly, root canals are no more difficult or no more discomfort than doing most things, unless, if the infection is advanced, if the infection is out of control, if somebody comes in and they're swollen out to here, and they've been up all night, and they're in severe pain, and I have to try and do something to try and get them out of pain, I do the best I can to try and keep them comfortable, but in a case like that, I don't care if I touch them on the knee, they're so touchy that they're uncomfortable, no matter what. We still do the best we can in a case like that.
If it's just a regular case, and we can get the infection under control and keep it under control, and we go to do the root canal, it's really no big deal. They're kind of boring, long, monotonous procedures. It's a lot of changing instruments and sizes, and in and out, and stuff like that, but oftentimes people are falling asleep in the chair, because it's an hour and a half procedure sometimes, and it's boring and they're bored, so they're snoozing away. But so they do get a bad rap. I would say 95% of the root canals that we do are of that easy variety. Every once in a while we get that individual who, and sometimes not their fault, but for whatever reason the infection has just blown up on them and they're just in a bad way. If that's the case, we do the best we can, keep them comfortable, and try and get them out of pain before we do the root canal. We deal with the pain first, to try and control the pain.
Root canals have earned a reputation as one of the most feared dental procedures. Yet when performed by a veteran Spokane Valley, WA dentist like Dr. Craig Ellsworth at Family Dental of Spokane Valley, there is nothing to fear about root canals.
If you think you need a root canals treatment, Call trusted Spokane Valley, WA dentist at 509-850-3217. Dr. Craig Ellsworth can perform the procedure, ending your pain and saving your tooth.
Why You Need a Root Canal
If decay gets into the center of your tooth, into the soft tissue inside, it must be removed. Otherwise, your tooth can get infected. Complications of infection can include:
- An abscessed tooth
- Swelling in your face and neck
- Bone loss around the root of your tooth
- A hole in your tooth that allows infection to spread
These complications are not only painful; they will lead to the loss of your tooth.
The Root Canal Procedure
Dr. Craig Ellsworth has performed scores of root canals procedures in his 26 years as a Spokane Valley, WA dentist. Here is how the root canals process works:
- He takes X-rays to determine the extent of the damage
- He administers local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the tooth so you feel no discomfort
- He places a piece of rubber around your tooth so the area stays dry
- He makes a tiny hole in the tooth, then removes all the damaged material from the center of the tooth
- He disinfects the tooth
- Then, he fills your tooth with a material called gutta-percha
- Finally, he places a filling to seal your tooth
- Depending on the extent of the damage, he may also place a dental crown on your tooth
With Dr. Craig Ellsworth’s expertise, you can trust him to complete your root canal as quickly and painlessly as possible. He’ll make the right decisions to preserve as much of your tooth as he can.
Call Family Dental of Spokane Valley at 509-850-3217 or use our online form to make an appointment at our Spokane Valley, WA dentist office for a root canals consultation with Dr. Craig Ellsworth.
