You know something is wrong with your tooth, but what? It's super-sensitive to hot and cold foods, and when you bite down, you feel some 
vague pain. Dr. E. Richard Zbaraschuk offers premiere dentistry in Sequim, WA for your optimal wellness. He'll uncover the problem with your tooth. In fact, he offers a wide range of restorative dental treatments, including comfortable root canal therapy.
Signs you may need root canal therapy
Root canal therapy has helped literally generations of dental patients retain teeth compromised by infection, deep decay, multiple fillings or oral injury. The aim of this comfortable, two-appointment service is to remove the soft pulp from within the tooth, fill and crown it, and save it from extraction.
What tells Dr. Zbaraschuk you need root canal therapy? X-rays give a good picture of tooth structure above and below the gum line, showing any cracks, abscesses (infection) or bone deterioration. Additionally, the dentist visually inspects your tooth, looking for darkly colored enamel, redness or swelling at the gum line, drainage and tell-tale bad breath.
Other symptoms indicate the need for root canal therapy, too. If you have a swollen jaw, a throbbing toothache and dental sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure and the pain persists, you likely have problems deep within your tooth structure.
The root canal process
If you need this Sequim restorative dentistry treatment to attain oral wellness, Dr. Zbaraschuk first will inject the area around your tooth to numb it so you are comfortable. Then, he'll use a high speed drill to create a small hole in your tooth, accessing the first of up to four root canals. (In general, molars have three or four canals and front teeth, one or two).
Using small metal files of ascending size, he will clean the canal, removing the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue which make up the pulp. He'll also disinfect the chambers, adding gutta-percha putty to seal and support them. Finally, he places a temporary filling.
At the next appointment, Dr. Zbaraschuk removes the temporary restoration. He covers the tooth with a realistic porcelain crown to support and protect the tooth. While this crown may need replacement in 10 years or so (as many crowns do), the tooth itself should endure for decades--even for the rest of your life, says the American Association of Endodontists.
Are you concerned?
If your tooth exhibits any of the symptoms outlined here, or if your instincts tell you something is wrong, contact Zbaraschuk Dental Care in Sequim, WA. We're here to help and guarantee you accurate, respectful and comfortable care. Call (360) 683-3626 for an appointment.