Root Canal Therapy Wayne, NJ

Under the direction of Drs. Frank DiCicco, Joseph Pantaleo, and Deepa Rupani, Smilepartnerz offers a full range of general and cosmetic dental procedures to our patients in Wayne, New Jersey, including root canal therapy, tooth extraction oral surgery, cleanings, fillings, and cosmetic treatments. Whatever your treatment, you can be sure that our dentists will use skill and compassion to make your dental experience as pleasant and effective as possible.

Root Canal Therapy

When a tooth decays to the point that the pulp becomes infected, root canal therapy is performed to ease the pain, prevent the further spread of the bacteria that caused the infection, and save the tooth. Tooth pain is a common symptom of infected tooth pulp, followed by tooth sensitivity, discoloration, and gum swelling.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important that you contact us right away. An x-ray will reveal the extent of decay and damage to the pulp and will help Drs. Frank DiCicco, Joseph Pantaleo, and Deepa Rupani devise a course of action to save the tooth. The sooner the root canal therapy can be performed; the more likely it is that we will be able to save the tooth.

Root Canal Procedure

During the root canal procedure, at the Wayne, New Jersey office, Drs. Frank DiCicco, Joseph Pantaleo, or Deepa Rupani will remove the infected pulp from inside the tooth. They then fill and seal the canal with a rubbery material called gutta percha. Depending on the extent of decay on the crown of the tooth, the dentist will either fill it with traditional filling material, or place a crown on the tooth to reinforce its structure and protect it from further decay and fracture.

Extractions

Tooth extraction becomes necessary when a tooth is affected by extensive damage or advanced levels of decay. The tooth must be removed from your mouth before it leads to further pain and infection. A tooth is extracted when no other option, such as root canal therapy, can save the tooth. Our dentists utilize sedation dentistry at our Wayne, New Jersey practice to make the tooth extraction procedure easy and painless for the patient.

If it becomes necessary to extract a tooth from your mouth, there are many options that can be used to replace it, including a dental implant or a bridge. Replacing an extracted tooth is important to maintaining proper alignment and aesthetics, preventing bone loss in the jaw, and preventing gum disease.

Instructions after Root Canal Therapy

What to expect:

It is not uncommon for a tooth to be uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after root canal therapy. This should subside within a few days (or even weeks).

Your tooth will be sensitive to biting, touching or tapping. This feeling is a result of the sensitivity of nerve endings in the tissue just outside the end of the root where we cleaned. If a temporary filling was placed in the tooth expect that it will wear down. It may feel concave or like a “divot”. That is normal.

What to do:

Avoid chewing on the treated tooth as much as possible. Over-the-counter analgesics such as Advil (adults can take up to 4 tablets every 6 hours if needed) or Aleve (2 every 6 hours if needed), or the equivalent, are the most effective pain medications. Tylenol can be taken as an alternative if you are unable to tolerate Advil or Aleve.

You should be scheduled within a month after completion of your treatment so that a permanent restoration can be made.

Whether you need a root canal, tooth extraction, or filling, Drs. Frank DiCicco, Joseph Pantaleo, Deepa Rupani and our dentists at Smilepartnerz in Wayne, New Jersey, can help restore your smile and improve your oral health. Contact our office today to make an appointment.