Although a root canal is a procedure that nobody ever looks forward to, if you need a root canal, it’s important to get it done quickly. At Troup Family Dental, we can perform most root canals – including molar root canals – right here in our own office. This helps to save you time and unnecessary expense as well as days of pain waiting for treatment.

​

Modern dental care techniques have evolved to the point where root canal therapy is no longer as uncomfortable as it once was. Talk to us if you have concerns about the procedure. We want our patients to always feel comfortable and at ease when they visit us, and we will do everything we can to make your visit as low-stress as possible.

​

DO I NEED A ROOT CANAL?

​

Although root canal therapy has developed a not-so-nice reputation, the truth is that this procedure serves a necessary purpose. Although “root canal” is often used to refer to the procedure, the root canal is actually a part of the internal structure of your tooth that houses the root and nerve. If bacteria from decay or a crack invades nerve of the tooth, that nerve will become infected and may even die. When a tooth's nerve becomes infected, root canal therapy is usually the only way to save the tooth.

​

If your root canal is infected, you may be experiencing one or more of these symptoms:

​

• Swelling, tenderness, or pain in your gums

• A persistent pimple or sore on your gums

• Severe pain in your tooth that is increased by chewing or other pressure

• Sensitivity to heat or cold that does not stop when the source of the sensitivity is removed

• Darkening of your tooth

​

Contact our office if you have any of these symptoms. We will get you in quickly and perform an examination to determine the source of the problem. This examination will also include x-rays to determine the extent of the infection and make sure that it has not spread into the surrounding area. If you do need a root canal, we will discuss this with you before performing the procedure.

​

ROOT CANAL THERAPY

​

Before we begin the procedure, we will make sure that you are appropriately anesthetized and sedated so that you are comfortable. We will remove the pulp of the tooth along with any debris left by the infection. We will then use a special set of tools to completely clean out the inside of the tooth to make sure that all the infection is removed.

​

We then seal and fill the root canals, then fill the tooth access usually with white filling material. A crown is often needed following a root canal. If you need a crown, we will take impressions to create your restoration and provide you with a temporary crown until the permanent crown is ready.

​

If you are in pain, don’t wait even another day. Call Troup Family Dental today to schedule an appointment with Dr. May.