Dr. Rick Jackomis and our experienced team are always happy to help our patients in Sterling, Virginia, have the best possible dental experience by providing a caring, safe, effective and comfortable environment for them, even during a root canal.

You might think that a root canal wouldn’t be a comfortable experience, but it is entirely possible! Our goal is to relieve your tooth pain and save your teeth whenever possible. A root canal accomplishes this by getting to the “root” of your problem and saving the tooth from extraction.

What necessitates a root canal? Usually an infected or inflamed tooth pulp. Tooth pulp is a vital part of a tooth as it creates protective dentin to support tooth enamel while housing connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves which branch out into each root through canals in the tooth. Due to bacterial decay entering the pulp, it can become inflamed or infected.

How does bacteria reach the pulp? A deep cavity, cracks or breaks in the tooth, injury to the tooth, having repeated dental procedures—such as dental fillings–and even gum disease may provide access to the pulp by harmful bacteria.

Once the pulp is inflamed, the infected pulp will need to be dealt with. At Rick Jackomis, DDS, we strive to save teeth rather than extracting and replacing them if possible. A root canal allows us to do just that! If you are worried that a root canal may be painful, keep in mind that they are actually similar to having a filling done while providing relief from current tooth pain.

When a tooth is treated by a root canal, you will be made comfortable with an application of a local anesthetic to the tooth. Our dentist will remove any damaged pulp and thoroughly clean and disinfect the space left behind. This space will be filled and sealed with a rubberlike material called gutta-percha, and at some point, the tooth will require either a dental filling or crown.

Daily oral care will go a long way to keeping tooth decay and gum disease from harming your pearly whites. Remove oral debris, bacteria, and plaque by brushing and flossing daily, and keep up with routine professional dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar deposits from your smile.

To find out more about how to maintain your oral health, or to schedule a visit with our dentist, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call at 703-444-9244 today. Dr. Rick Jackomis and our team in Sterling, Virginia, are here to help you keep your smile healthy, beautiful, and confident!