Root Canal Therapy in Little Rock, AR
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that’s performed to save a decayed or infected tooth. Root canal therapy or endodontic treatment is one of the most common dental procedures and is usually required if the dental pulp is inflamed or infected. During root canal therapy in Little Rock, AR, our dentist near you removes the infected dental pulp. The tooth remains functional. However, the treated tooth is desensitized to hot and cold sensations due to the removal of the nerve endings in the dental pulp.
You may be a candidate for root canal therapy if you’re experiencing toothaches, increased dental sensitivity, tooth discoloration, and pain when chewing. If you’re showing these symptoms, get in touch with Dr. William Knight for a thorough consultation.
Simple or Non-Surgical Root Canals
Non-surgical root canals are the most common form of root canal therapy near you. During a non-surgical root canal, Dr. William Knight administers local anesthesia to numb the affected tooth and surrounding regions. The dentist then carefully drills into the tooth and uses root canal files to remove all decayed pulp. The dentist also disinfects the root canals using sodium hypochlorite, which prevents further bacterial activity and reduces the risk of re-infection. Finally, the dentist seals the treated canals using gutta-percha material.
If your tooth is significantly worn or damaged, our dentist in Little Rock, AR may opt to repair its structure using a dental crown. A crown is a custom-fabricated tooth-shaped cap that’s cemented to a damaged tooth to restore its function and appearance.
A non-surgical root canal is usually completed within a single visit or at most two trips. The patient is required to come back for a follow-up visit so we can monitor their post-treatment progress.
Surgical Root Canals
If an initial non-surgical root canal fails or isn’t sufficient to save your tooth, Dr. William Knight may perform a surgical root canal. Surgical root canals or endodontic surgery may be required if you continue to experience pain after conventional root canal therapy.
There are different forms of surgical root canals. Apicoectomy or root-end resection is among the more common types of endodontic surgery. To perform an apicoectomy, the dentist accesses the apex of the tooth root and cuts it off. The dentist then seals the root with a root-end filling. If the infection had spread to the bone, grafting might be required to rebuild the damaged bone.
Do you have a problematic tooth that’s causing you pain and discomfort? Extraction isn’t always the answer. To find out if root canal therapy near you is the best option, get in touch with Dr. William Knight today.
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