Root Canals

Phoenix, Scottsdale and Payson, AZ.

Everyone has heard the horror stories and late night jokes about the dreaded root canal. However, with today’s modern technology and advanced training, Drs. Chris and Patrice Winterholler are able to ensure that our patients who need to undergo a root canal are comfortable throughout the procedure.

What is Inside a Tooth?

A tooth’s enamel is the protective and strong outside layer. Beneath it is the next layer, called the dentin, and under the dentin is the tooth’s soft tissue, the tooth pulp. It is inside the Pulp consists of:

• Nerves
• Arteries
• Veins
• Lymph vessels
• Connective tissue

Each tooth’s nerve runs from the body’s nervous system into the tip of the tooth root, in the jawbone. Likewise, the blood vessels run from the general circulatory system and the lymph vessels from the lymph system. These structures all connect the tooth with the rest of the body.

The space they enter at the tip of the tooth’s root is the root canal. It runs up through the root into the interior of the tooth’s visible part, its crown. The root canal is narrow and the pulp chamber inside the crown is more spacious. Each tooth has between one and four root canals, depending on how many roots it has.

Advantages of a Root Canal Procedure

When a tooth is severely decayed or damaged to the point where the tooth pulp is infected, that pulp needs to be cleaned out and replaced with a strong dental cement. Then a crown is placed over the visible part of the tooth. This gives you the benefits of:

• Avoiding a tooth extraction
• Preserving the tooth and prolonging its life
• Strengthening the tooth for normal chewing and biting
• Restoring the tooth’s attractiveness with the new surfaces provided by a shiny porcelain crown

At Winterholler Dentistry we provide Sedation Dentistry for those who become apprehensive at the idea of a dental visit. We will give you a friendly welcome and lots of support, as we do understand that dental anxiety.

You can read more about tooth restoration at our pages on Tooth-Colored Fillings, CEREC One-Visit Crowns, and Full Mouth Restoration.

If you would like to have a free consultation with Dr. Chris or Patrice Winterholler, please contact our cosmetic dentistry office today. We serve Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Payson in Arizona.