Colleen Tracy Dentistry

425-337-1000

frontdesk@tracydds.com

Dental Conditions

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment and subsequent tooth restoration usually involves three steps.

  • First, your dentist removes the infection to promote healing.


  • Next, he places a post to strengthen the tooth.


  • Finally, he crowns the tooth to protect it.

    • Your dentist wants the entire procedure to be comfortable for you, so the first thing he'll do is make sure you're thoroughly numb. Then, he will place a rubber dam around your tooth to isolate it from the rest of your mouth. It protects you by keeping debris from falling to the back of your throat. It also keeps the tooth dry and accessible so your dentist can do a better job.

    To get at the infection, he makes an opening through the top of the tooth down into the pulp chamber. With a dental file, your dentist (or endodontist) carefully cleans out the infected tissue and shapes the canals to receive the filling material. X-rays are taken to make sure that all of the infected pulp is removed.

    Sometimes it's necessary to strengthen a tooth with a post. The post is cemented down inside one of the root canals.

    Making a crown is the last step in restoring your tooth. It protects your tooth and gives you back your smile.