How can we help you?
Dr. Sanati and Dr. Shahram welcome your questions! We know you can make the best decisions about your dental care when you are fully informed about our treatments and how they benefit you. For your convenience, listed below are answers to some of the questions we hear most frequently. Please don't hesitate to contact our Vienna, VA office if you would like more information or if your question is not shown here.
Root Canals
What Is a Root Canal?
Dr. Ardalan Sanati and Dr. Shohreh Shahram may recommend a root canal in order to save a severely damaged or infected tooth. The root canal procedure allows your dentist to remove any infected pulp and make sure the tooth is cleaned before sealing it.
If the tooth is left untreated, the infection can spread to the tissue surrounding the tooth and create an abscess.
Many patients who seek root canals may be experiencing intense tooth pain. Contrary to popular belief, root canal treatment does not cause pain. Instead, it takes away pain and discomfort and relieves the sufferer.
Removing the Infected Portion
When bacteria enter the tooth, it can affect the nerve tissue and pulp, causing infection or abscess. The abscess happens when the infection spreads beyond the tooth root and infects the surrounding soft tissue.
An infected tooth can also cause the following:
- Swelling that spreads to the face and neck
- Bone loss
- Tooth pain
The Process of a Root Canal
During your root canal treatment, your dentist will first apply a local anesthetic to the site to numb it—patients will not feel pain or discomfort during the procedure. Your Vienna, VA dentist will then remove any infection or bacteria and make sure there is nothing left.
Afterward, the tooth will be sealed to prevent bacteria from entering and reinfecting. Patients will feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the whole process. There may be some discomfort in the few days following the procedure that we can remedy with over-the-counter pain medication.
End Your Tooth Pain Today
If you think you could benefit from a root canal, give Tysons Dentistry a call immediately so we can schedule your evaluation.
Root canal treatment is necessary to relieve pain and remove infection from inside your tooth. It usually makes the difference between saving and losing the tooth. Without treatment, damage will continue to spread and the pain will worsen. Eventually, the tooth will need to be removed.
At Tysons Dentistry, we know how unpleasant the thought of a root canal can be, but the bad reputation is mostly due to a misunderstanding about the procedure. If you haven’t had a root canal in many years, it may indeed have been a complicated procedure.
Today's Difference
Using updated technology and treatment techniques, a root canal is really no more complicated than having a tooth filled. Dr. Shahram and Dr. Sanati have performed many root canals over the years, and our patients often tell us it was much ore comfortable than they anticipated.
We know that you may still have concerns about the procedure, and we are happy to offer sedation methods that will help you relax. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) will put you in a very calm and dreamy state so that you’re not aware of what’s going on around you.
Oral sedation is helpful if you have greater anxiety, and we can use it in combination with nitrous to provide a totally stress-free experience.
Please contact our Vienna dental office for more information about our painless root canal treatment.
The short answer is that we perform root canal treatment to eliminate a painful infection and save the tooth from extraction.
Root canals at our Vienna, VA dental office are necessary when extensive decay or trauma has caused an infection deep within your tooth. Common signs that you may need a root canal are pain that does not subside, extreme sensitivity of the tooth, or a bump on your gum.
This part of your tooth contains pulp and nerve tissue that keeps your tooth healthy and alive. When an infection penetrates this area, you will likely experience acute pain, and it is necessary to perform a root canal to relieve this discomfort. The only other option is the extraction of the tooth, which should be considered a last resort.
The Root Canal Process Here At Tysons Dentistry
During a root canal, Dr. Sanati or Dr. Shahram will first numb the area completely so you don’t feel anything. Then we make a tiny access hole in the tooth to reach the infected area.
State-of-the-art technology is used to gently and efficiently clear away the infection, and a filling material is placed in the area, then the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. A dental crown will also be recommended to support and protect the tooth.
Modern root canal treatment is comfortable and efficient and nothing to be feared. If you have symptoms that you think might be related to a root canal infection, please call Tysons Dentistry, and we will see you as quickly as possible.
While it’s unfortunate that root canal treatment has earned such a negative reputation, it’s also understandable. Years ago we did not have the technology or materials to make root canals efficient and comfortable. But all that has changed, and now root canals are no more uncomfortable than having a cavity filled.
Dr. Sanati and Dr. Shahram have extensive training and expertise in performing root canals that are effective and comfortable. A root canal is a very important procedure that is needed to save your tooth, and should not be put off. At Tysons Dentistry, We have helped many patients get past their fear and worry about root canal treatment, and many tell us that treatment was not nearly as complicated as they thought it would be.
Your Comfort Is Our Priority
We want you to be completely comfortable, so we also offer different types of sedation like inhalation (nitrous oxide) and oral sedation that can help make your root canal stress-free. If you tell us about your concerns beforehand, we can make accommodations during your treatment to keep you calm and relaxed.
Please contact our Vienna dental office for more information about our stress-free root canal. We look forward to helping you get the treatment you need.