Root Canal Therapy in Bakersfield, CA

Save your teeth and your smile from infection

If your tooth becomes infected, it’s essential to seek treatment before the infection reaches the root, as it may need to be extracted. Extraction is less than ideal, as you may become more vulnerable to oral health issues. Conversely, failing to seek treatment for infected teeth allows the infection to spread to other parts of your body and endanger your overall health.

Fortunately, at Gentle Family Dentistry, if the infection is detected soon enough, Dr. Garger can save the tooth from extraction using root canal therapy.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

To fully understand how root canal therapy works, it helps to understand the three layers of the tooth:

  • The hard, outermost layer is called the enamel.
  • The second layer is called the dentin.
  • The third layer is a collection of living tissues, nerves, and roots called the dental pulp. The dental pulp is housed in the hollow spaces of your teeth, called root canals.

Damage due to decay or dental trauma can allow bacteria in your mouth to penetrate the enamel, pass through the dentin, and reach the dental pulp. Once that bacteria has reached those living tissues, infection will begin to set in. Root canal therapy is the process of cleaning out all decayed and infected material from the inside of a tooth to sterilize it and prevent reinfection.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

If you have a tooth infection that’s progressed to a certain point, root canal therapy shouldn’t be neglected. Some benefits of the procedure include:

  • Saving teeth from extraction
  • Eliminating the need for more costly restorations and invasive procedures
  • Eliminating pain and irritation caused by damage and infection
  • Preventing the infection from spreading
  • Preventing further tooth decay and tooth loss
  • Helping to enhance and preserve your oral and overall health

Signs that you may need a Root Canal

To accurately evaluate the state of your smile, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Garger at our Bakersfield office. However, there are common signs that you may need a root canal that you should be on the lookout for, such as:

  • Crowding
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
  • Dental trauma
  • Damage to the soft tissue and bone surrounding the tooth
  • Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
  • Severe tooth pain
  • Loosening of the tooth
  • Swollen gums or abscesses on the gums

The Root Canal Therapy process

Step 1: Initial Consultation

Before you undergo any dental procedures, you’ll attend a consultation with Dr. Garger. During your consultation, Dr. Garger will thoroughly examine your mouth to determine the severity of your infection. He’ll also review your medical history and discuss your oral health goals with you. Once you and Dr. Garger both agree to proceed with root canal therapy, we’ll schedule you for your next appointment.

Step 2: Preparation

First, we’ll perform a meticulous cleaning of your mouth to rid it of debris. Then, we’ll numb the area around the affected tooth using a local anesthetic. To ensure that no saliva enters the tooth during the procedure, we’ll place a rubber dam around it.

Step 3: Root Canal Therapy

Dr. Garger will access your tooth’s pulp using specialized dental tools. He’ll then use a specialized tool and a disinfecting solution to clean out any decayed enamel and infected material.

Step 4: Post & Core Buildup

After the tooth is completely sterilized, Dr. Garger will perform post and core buildup to reinforce the tooth’s structure. During this process, small rods are inserted into the root canals of the tooth. These rods will help hold a dental filling, or core, in place. To further support the crown, Dr. Garger will replace lost tooth material using composite materials.

Step 5: Placing a Crown

A common mistake patients make after root canal therapy is to neglect to have a dental crown installed. Dr. Garger highly recommends installing a dental crown to minimize the possibility of further damage. To install the crown, Dr. Garger will shape the natural tooth into a base before placing the crown with a special dental adhesive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Root Canal Therapy From Gentle Family Dentistry Can Save Your Smile

If you develop a tooth infection, extraction doesn’t have to be the only option. When the infection is caught quickly enough, Dr. Garger can use root canal therapy to help save your natural teeth and eliminate the need for more expensive, invasive restorations.

To learn more about the benefits of root canal therapy, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Garger at Gentle Family Dentistry’s Bakersfield office, dial 661-664-9900. You can also book an appointment online and a friendly staff member will get back to you shortly.

Gentle Family Dentistry

9900 Stockdale Hwy.
Suite 201
Bakersfield, CA 93311

Office Hours

Mon
8am – 5pm
Tue
7am – 4pm
Wed
8am – 5pm
Thu
7am – 4pm
Fri
8am – 1pm (every other Friday)
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