Top Dentist Serving the Aurora Community

Root Canals

Quality Root Canals in Aurora

Toothaches are a vivid reminder that teeth aren’t just pieces of hard tissue floating around in the gums. They are intricately formed sensory organs with layers of dentin and enamel protecting a living pulp. Coursing through the tooth’s pulp is a vital bundle of nerves and blood vessels providing nutrients and sensation to each tooth.

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As long as the pulp stays healthy, you’re rarely aware of the systems at work.

Tooth pain can be especially alarming, but it’s meant to warn you that something’s not right. Pain tells us that the bundle of nerves and vessels inside your tooth is irritated, damaged, or under attack.

A deep cavity can give bacteria access to the inner nerve bundle. In some cases, a significant infection, called an abscess, may develop in your jaw without any symptoms at all. If Dr. Zhu determines that the nerve won’t recover or if an infection is present, then root canal therapy may be suggested.

Modern anesthetics provide powerful numbing for the gentle removal of the inflamed nerve inside the tooth. The nerve canal undergoes disinfection and careful shaping, and a sealer fills the internal space. A filling or crown over the tooth helps return the tooth to its original function.

Are Root Canals Safe?

Internet articles continue to circulate claiming adverse health effects from root canals, despite years of research proving otherwise. Many of these claims rest on false theories put forward decades ago without any scientific basis. In fact, one popular Facebook article sounding a false alarm shakily rests on a 100-year-old study tossed aside long ago.

The American Association of Endodontists stays abreast of all research and can support the safety of this vital service. In fact, new techniques and materials make root canal treatment more successful than ever.

Root Canals FAQs

What is a root canal?
A root canal is a procedure that removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth. The space is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to relieve pain and save the natural tooth.
Common signs include sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when chewing, swelling, a bump on the gums, or a tooth that feels darkened. In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all.
No. Modern root canals are performed with local anesthesia, making the procedure comfortable. Most patients report that it feels similar to getting a filling and provides relief from tooth pain.
Most root canals are completed in one visit lasting about 60–90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the tooth.
After treatment, the tooth is often restored with a crown to protect it and restore strength. Mild sensitivity is normal for a few days but improves as healing progresses.