- 7100 Fort Dent Way #270, Tukwila, WA 98188
Preserve Natural Teeth and Avoid Extractions Restore Proper Chewing Functionality Prevent Infection from Spreading Regain Confidence in Your Smile Prolong the Lifespan of Your Teeth
One of the last lines of defense when it comes to preserving a tooth is root canal therapy for Tukwila, WA patients.. Root canals restore a tooth with severe decay from the inside out, that is, they involve removing the infected nerve tissue and placing a filling material inside of the tooth. This eliminates the diseased tissues and infection, disinfects the tooth, and prevents the tooth from eroding from the inside.
Having a root canal is no different than most other dental treatments. It starts with a proper and complete diagnosis to determine which tooth is problematic (it isn’t always obvious) and the extent of the issue, as sometimes the damage is so significant that the tooth cannot be saved. The screening tests may include: percussion (tapping), palpation (lightly rubbing a gloved finger in the area), probing (determining pocket depth of the tissues surrounding the tooth), mobility (does it wiggle?), thermal tests, and X-ray evaluation.
After the length of the canal is determined, mechanical shaping of the canal is done. This is completed by using incrementally larger files. Dr. Timmerman uses a rotating file system so that the canal is cleaned and shaped precisely. In between each file, an antibacterial liquid is flushed into the system to wash away the bacteria and particles of shaved tooth. This helps to kill the infection.
Mechanical cleaning and shaping are very important, but chemical irrigation is key to disinfecting the tooth. There are many products that can be used, and Dr. Timmerman prefers a combination of materials to make sure the tooth has been disinfected as much as possible. Some bacteria are killed with certain specific methods and others are not. By using a combination, the hope is that the entire spectrum is addressed.
After a canal has been cleaned, shaped, and disinfected, it must then be filled. The term dentists use is “obturation.” A sealer (imagine caulking) coats a gutta percha “cone,” a rubber-like material that is often used at the core of golf balls (fun fact). This prevents re-infection of the root canal system by hermetically sealing the canal and gives the root of the tooth increased strength.
If a tooth is treated with root canal therapy but NOT restored with a final restoration (crown, onlay, or whatever is determined as necessary), the tooth can still be lost. The hollowing out process of the therapy leaves a weaker tooth that is prone to fracture. Unprotected teeth that have had RCT can sometimes crack or break in such a way that the tooth must be extracted.
When pulp inside your tooth root becomes infected, the pulp and bacteria must be removed to save your tooth, oral health and overall health.
During a root canal in Tukwila, WA, our oral surgeon first numb the treatment site with a local anesthetic. If you suffer from dental anxiety or need additional sedation, we offer diverse sedation options. Either way, you won’t feel any pain, although you may experience slight pressure as we complete the procedure.
We drill a small hole in your tooth crown to gain access to the pulp chamber and carefully clean out all the bacteria and infected pulp and tissues. Then we fill and seal the end with a rubberlike material called gutta-percha.
Afterward, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling to protect it and restore normal function. We accept many insurance plans and offer third-party financing to ensure your treatment is both painless and affordable.
Restore your oral health with Root Canal Therapy. Preserve your natural tooth and prevent further complications. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
At South Seattle Smiles, we believe in using innovative endodontics in Tukwila, WA to benefit our patients, such as micro-endoscopy and the GentleWave® Procedure. In fact, we’re one of only two practices in NYC to use groundbreaking GentleWave technology, which requires specific training and certification. Special operating microscopes enable our oral surgeon to see tiny details inside a tooth that guide more accurate treatment.
The GentleWave Procedure is a minimally invasive state-of-the-art protocol to access the infected root canal system. The protocol enables the preservation of more of the natural tooth, thereby helping the tooth structure remain strong. Using GentleWave, our oral surgeon can typically clean and fill the tooth in just one visit, compared to the several appointments required with standard root canal therapy. Thorough debridement of the tooth is essential when performing root canal treatment to prevent the need for root canal retreatment or an apicoectomy. In our experience, GentleWave provides the most predictable method for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting complex internal anatomies.
The best way to prevent a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene, avoid hard food that can crack teeth, and protect your teeth when playing sports. Follow these additional precautions:
Born and raised in Kirkland, Dr. Timmerman believes that a true dentist is also an artist, and he even displays works of art in our dental office (including a sculpture he made with his own hands) to demonstrate his aesthetic-minded eye.
Seeing people smile brighter after their appointments is always a joy, which is why his dental office is open to new patients and families who are ready to achieve the dental health and happiness they deserve. If you’d like to learn more about him, just keep reading below.
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