Root Canal Dentist
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure to preserve your natural tooth and maintain your oral health.
What is a root canal?
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure to preserve your natural tooth and maintain your oral health. Root canal specialist, Dr. Wu performs the root canal procedure to remove your tooth’s cushiony center, called the pulp, when it’s infected or abscessed. Endodontists perform this procedure as a way to eliminate the need to pull your tooth. Natural tooth extraction leaves an unattractive gap and can lead to further dental problems.
Once you remove a tooth, the support it provides to its neighboring teeth vanishes and they may migrate or become loose. With a root canal, the tooth and its supportive structures remain, keeping optimal mouth function and eliminating any pain or inflammation.
How do you know if you need a root canal?
When your tooth is infected or has an abscess, you may need dental treatment to stop the infection from spreading and save your tooth. Signs that you may need a root canal include:
- Mild to severe tooth pain, swelling or inflammation around the tooth
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Tenderness to the touch
- Darkening of your tooth
To determine if you need such a procedure, Dr. Wu takes X-rays to see the interior of your tooth. If there’s an infection in the root or roots of your tooth, she may recommend a root canal. A common procedure, root canals are safe and over 95% effective.
Root canal procedure
When you need a root canal treatment, dentist Dr. Wu can do it right in her office. She begins by numbing the area around your tooth (local anesthesia) and placing a dental dam. This device keeps saliva away from the treatment area, ensuring it stays dry and clean during the root canal procedure. In case you have dental anxiety and prefer a more comfortable procedure, we also offer Sedation Dentistry using laughing gas.
Dr. Wu then makes an opening in your tooth and removes the infected pulp. She cleans out the tooth’s infected areas and replaces the pulp with gutta-percha, a biocompatible rubbery substance. If necessary, she places a metal post inside the tooth to provide additional support.
Once completed, she fills your tooth with composite bonding or covers the tooth with a permanent crown. Once the tooth heals, it’s fully functional, and you have no residual pain.
Testimonials from Patients
Everyone was so warm and nice from the second I walked in. The office is beautiful and in a very convenient location. I went in for a consultation to see what might be going on with a root canal tooth that hasn’t been feeling right. Dr. Wu took her time to make sure and explain everything in detail to me and answer all of my questions. Definitely recommend!
Root Canal Specialist
Dr. Wu’s dental care philosophy along with advanced technology enables us to offer you a pleasant root canal procedure.
Ready to Book Your Visit?
If you’re nervous about dental visits, give Issaquah Premier Dental a try. You can easily book your appointment online.
Have Questions?
If you have concerns or questions about root canal, feel free to discuss them with Dr. Wu.