Can a General Dentist in El Dorado Hills Perform a Root Canal?

Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures dentists perform. However, there are many different types of dentists for you to choose from, making it necessary to understand if your general dentist is able to perform specific dental services, such as a root canal. 

Can a general dentist perform a root canal?

General dentists are equipped to perform a root canal. In fact, general dentists use this type of dental procedure to save a tooth from being lost forever. While general dentists can perform root canals, they may refer patients to an endodontist when their condition is too complex for a root canal to correct. 

According to the American Dental Association, dentists' areas of care include not only their patient's teeth and gums but also the muscles of the head, neck, jaw, tongue, salivary glands, the nervous system of the head and neck, and other areas.

The root canal procedure

The list below includes what dental patients can expect when they need root canal therapy to save a tooth. Once a patient sits in the dental chair, the procedure takes about an hour and a half. While the entire root canal procedure can often take just one trip to the dental office, some patients need two appointments to complete the process. In addition, while not all patients need a dental crown placed after the procedure, some do.

X-rays are taken

Taking an X-ray allows the dentist to learn more about the shape of the tooth's root canal and see if there are any signs of mouth infection present, e.g., an abscess. In addition, an X-ray will give the dentist a clear image of the teeth, roots, and mouth. This enhanced image will help determine what treatment the patient needs for their oral health.

Anesthesia is given to the patient

Local anesthesia is injected into the area to be treated so the patient will not feel anything while the procedure is being performed. After the anesthesia takes effect, which only takes a few minutes, the dentist will place a rubber dam over the patient’s tooth to keep the area clean and prevent debris from spreading to the rest of the mouth.

A small hole is drilled

The dentist will drill a small hole in the infected tooth, which is used to remove the pulp, bacteria, nerve tissue, and any debris that can cause even more problems. This process is necessary to remove all the infections and completely clean out the tooth. Root canal files are used to make sure that the inside of the tooth is thoroughly clean.

The tooth is filled and sealed

The last step of the procedure is to fill the tooth, which helps keep it strong and helps prevent it from becoming further damaged. The material is similar to rubber and is used to fill the now hollow tooth. A special dental sealing paste is then used to seal the filling into the tooth, allowing it to function properly once again.

Is root canal therapy in your near future?

If you need a general dentist to examine your mouth to find out if you need a root canal, we invite you to contact us now to schedule this important dental appointment. When one or more of your teeth are in jeopardy of being lost forever, it is important for you to undergo any necessary dental procedures so you can still have a full mouth of teeth. A healthy mouth includes all teeth; when just one is missing, you must choose a replacement.

Request an appointment here: https://dexterdds.com or call Scott Dexter, DDS at (916) 233-0910 for an appointment in our El Dorado Hills office.

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