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Root Canal Therapy

When teeth experience decay, we are often able to treat the issue with a dental filling. We remove the decayed portion of the tooth and fill the space left behind with a dental filling. What happens when a tooth experiences significant decay? When the decay within a tooth reaches into the inner layers of the tooth, we can often save the tooth through a procedure known as root canal therapy. At Nancy Shiba, DDS, we take your oral health seriously, and will always try our best to help you keep your natural teeth. Root canal therapy is one of the best ways that we can save a tooth from having to be extracted. If Dr. Shiba has determined you need a root canal, we will refer you to a trusted endodontist in the area.

What is root canal therapy?

When decay reaches into the inner layers of a tooth, we can sometimes save that tooth using root canal therapy. Our teeth are made up of three layers. The outermost layer is a thin protective coating of enamel. Enamel is what makes our teeth appear white and protects our teeth from the forces of chewing and from the bacteria that live in our mouth. Below the enamel is a layer of hard dentin. Dentins provides a second, thicker layer of structural support to our teeth. At the center of the tooth lies the pulp which surrounds the root of the tooth. When decay causing bacteria eat away at the enamel and the dentin of your tooth to make it to the pulp, we can sometimes save the tooth with a root canal.

Reasons for Root Canal Therapy

There are a variety of reasons that patients end up needing a root canal. Some of the reasons that you might need a root canal include:

•	Decay has reached the inner pulp of the tooth
•	A tooth has been severely damaging due to physical trauma
•	When a tooth has been worn down due to bruxism (AKA tooth grinding)
•	When an infection or abscess has developed within a tooth are at the base of the tooth

The Procedure

Root canal therapy involves removing the decay in the tooth completely and then removing the pulp and root of the tooth as well. Your endodontist will use a special dental drill to remove the decay within the tooth. Once the decay, the pulp, and the root have been removed, they will rinse the interior of the tooth out with a special antibacterial to ensure that there is no chance of infection following the procedure. They will fill the space that the pulp and the root used to be with an inert substance called gutta-percha. Once the tooth is filled in, they will use composite resin to fill the last portion of the tooth the same way we would a tooth colored filling.

Once the procedure is finished, you will be able to eat and speak as you normally do. It is common for the tooth to be sensitive to cold following root canal therapy. Please call us today at (669) 306-7669 to schedule your appointment to determine if you need a root canal.

Our Convenient Location

Nancy Shiba, DDS

125 N Jackson Ave, San Jose, CA 95116-1903

Phone

(669) 306-7669

Hours

Mon: 9AM–6PM
Tue: by appointment
Wed: 10AM–7PM
Thur: 10:30AM–2:30PM
Friday: 8AM–5PM
Sat & Sun: Closed

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Root Canal San Jose | Nancy Shiba, DDS | Dentist San Jose
Nancy Shiba, DDS, 125 N Jackson Ave, Suite 103, San Jose, CA 95116-1914 • (669) 306-7669 • nancyshibadds.com • 6/7/2022 • Related Terms: dentist San Jose •