Root Canal Treatment South Portland

Do I Need a Root Canal?

The best way to learn whether you need a root canal is to be seen by a dentist. After X-rays are taken and an examination is completed, Dr. Barillas or Dr. Salamon will be able to diagnose your issue and design a tailored treatment plan for you. If you’re curious about whether your symptoms could warrant the need for root canal treatment, here are some signs to keep an eye out for:

• A persistent toothache that won’t seem to go away
• Tooth pain that keeps you up at night or bothers you throughout the day
• A cracked or visibly damaged tooth
• Gum disease has caused recession around a tooth
• A tooth is highly sensitive
• A tooth is visibly discolored
• A pimple-like bump has appeared on the gums near the painful tooth

The Root Canal Process

Getting a root canal and restoration typically takes two visits; however, because we offer same-day CEREC crowns, we’re able to complete the entire process in a single appointment. In order to gain access to the infected pulp of your tooth, our dentists will create a small window in the top surface. This will allow them to remove the pulp and sanitize the interior, making sure no bacteria are left behind. We will then restore the structure of the tooth by filling the chamber with an antimicrobial putty called gutta-percha.

Before we send you home, we will craft a customized dental crown using our in-house milling machine. This will allow us to skip the placement of a temporary crown and immediately put a permanent restoration on so you don’t have to worry about coming back into our office.