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Do you think you need a root canal in Kitsilano Vancouver?

Here are some Common root canal symptoms

• Persistent tooth pain. 
• Sensitivity to heat and cold.
• Tooth discolouration.
• Swollen gums.
• Pain when you eat or touch the tooth.
• A chipped or cracked tooth.

What is a root canal

Root canal therapy is performed when the pulp which is composed of nerves and blood vessels in the tooth becomes infected or damaged. During root canal therapy, the pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.

People fear root canals because they assume they are painful. However most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling. The discomfort experienced in the period leading up to the root canal is more painful than the procedure itself.

How a root canal is performed

An x-ray of the tooth in question will be taken prior to the treatment in order to check the shape of the canals and determine if the bone or surrounding area is infected.

To begin the process of treating the tooth, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the particular area.

By using a rubber sheet also known as a “dam” to isolate the tooth, your dentist keeps the tooth and surrounding area clean and dry and free of saliva.

A hole is then drilled into the tooth to gain access to the pulp chamber.

Once your dentist has exposed the pulp chamber, they begin to remove infected pulp and, eventually, the nerve itself.

This process is accomplished through the use of root canal files. These files, which vary in diameter, are placed one at a time into the tooth and down the entire root canal.

This effectively cleans out any debris from the chamber and canal. Once this is done, your dentist will refill the canals and chamber with a rubber compound and seal it with cement.

What Happens after a Root Canal?

After a root canal is complete, the tooth will be able to function as it normally does. Although root canals remove the nerve inside the tooth, these nerves don’t serve much function in a fully-formed tooth.

Do I Need a Crown after a Root Canal?

Sometimes! Needing a crown on your tooth after a root canal depends on the location of the tooth in the mouth. Teeth towards the back of the mouth like molars and premolars are needed more for chewing, and generally require crowns, while incisors or canine teeth near the front don’t often need a crown.

Got more questions? The team at Kits Family Dental will be happy to answer any questions you have on root canals in Vancouver! Please call 604-738-1816. 

Why kids suck things

Children suck their thumb, or other fingers to soothe, relax and often put themselves to sleep and sometimes During times of stress and anxiety. It’s a natural instinct and normal behaviour commonly in younger children, the same way that other children cuddle a toy or blanket.

Why is it bad….

There aren’t any serious conditions that come from thumb sucking and sucking fingers or a pacifier prior to teeth erupting usually doesn’t cause any issues, however if continued beyond the age of four or once permanent teeth erupt oral problems such as 

Palate issues – at times a higher palate can develop due to excessive pressure of the tongue and finger

Speech problems – thumb sucking adversely affected the alignment of teeth and jaw development, which may lead to lisp and speech impediments. T’s & D’s are more challenging to pronounce and this may affect articulation when speaking and require speech therapy. 

Misaligned bite – is the growth of the upper jaw, its natural shape is often modified growing narrow  

Overjet – is the space between upper and lower front teeth in the front to back dimension. This occurs when excessive forward pressure of the finger while sucking.

How to prevent thumb sucking

It is important like anything with children it is approached kindly. Gently remind your child every time you see a thumb or finger in their mouth.

Give your child something to distract them, such as a favourite stuffed toy to hold or play with

Use a chart and/or rewards system. Some options are to mark the chart when they go a certain amount of time, an hour or two or a day, without putting their thumb in their mouth. If they are resistant to the idea of stopping, they could mark the chart when they stop sucking without complaining after being reminded. 

Give your child plenty of encouragement and praise when they go a while without sucking their thumb or remember to stop without a reminder.

For older children, you could put a band-aid over the finger they usually suck on. This could be enough to help them remember their goal.

If the thumb sucking occurs during the night, it may be helpful to cover their hand with a sock.

If you are worried about your child, please book a consultation with us.