Root Canal Therapy in Northgate, Seattle
While root canal therapy may sound intimidating, there’s actually nothing to fear. It’s a common procedure that provides toothache relief and preserves your natural tooth. At Reen Chung, DDS, Dr. Chung performs gentle root canal therapy and aims to make your procedure as comfortable as possible.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
Wondering if you have an infected tooth? People experience different symptoms for an abscessed tooth, but if you have one or more of the following you may have an infection.
- Tooth pain (ranging from a dull ache to sharp pain)
- Tooth sensitivity
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swollen gums
- Bitter, salty taste in mouth
- Bad breath (Halitosis)
If you notice any of these signs, we recommend that you schedule an in-office consultation so that our experienced Northgate dentist can examine your tooth. Even if a root canal isn’t necessary, there may be another dental problem causing these symptoms.
The Root Canal Procedure
Before the procedure begins, we completely numb the area. If you have dental anxiety, we can also give you laughing gas to help you feel relaxed while we work. We make a small opening in the top of your infected tooth and gently remove the infected pulp inside. After the damaged pulp is gone, we clean the tooth and seal the opening with a tooth-colored filling or dental crown to prevent future infection.
Root Canal Cost
The cost of a root canal depends on your unique situation. After your consultation, we’ll provide you with an accurate cost estimate and go over our flexible financial options. When it comes to your dental health, we do our best to help you fit the dental care you need into your budget!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do most people need a root canal?
Deep decay, inflammation, infection, trauma to the mouth, cracked teeth, or repeated dental procedures on one tooth can all lead to the need for a root canal. Root canals are the last resort for saving a damaged tooth. The infected pulp inside of the tooth must be removed so it can then be cleaned and sealed. If a root canal is not performed, the next step would be to extract the tooth and replace it with an implant or other dental restoration.
Are root canals painful?
Many patients report that getting a root canal is really no different from having a cavity filled. As far as pain goes, the procedure and aftercare routine should be less painful than the damage or infection was. You may feel some sensitivity or discomfort for a few days following a root canal, but as long as you are careful with the tooth and try to chew on the other side of your mouth, it should feel normal again fairly quickly. You can resume your normal daily activities the day after a root canal procedure.
Will I need to do anything else after a root canal treatment?
If the tooth that is treated is toward the front of the mouth, some patients want their root canal to be covered by a dental crown for cosmetic purposes. If a large portion of the tooth had to be filled, a crown placement may be necessary in the future. If a crown is placed, it’s usually done a few months after root canal therapy so the tooth can settle and heal.