Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is a procedure used to save a decayed or infected tooth. The entire procedure will remove the bacteria or infection and repair the tooth so that it does not get reinfected. Root canals are a safe and effective way to save a tooth and are relatively painless.

If you have severe pain when eating, lingering sensitivity to cold or hot, swollen gums, or darkening of gums this could be a sign that your tooth is infected. In order to remove the infection, your dentist will remove the center of the tooth which is known as the pulp. The center of the tooth holds the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue of the tooth, however, it is not important to the function of a fully developed tooth.

Root canals perform an important function for your overall health:

The dentist will first administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth. A small opening will then be made in the crown of the tooth. Dental instruments will be used to clean the pulp from inside the tooth and root canals. Once the area is cleaned, it will be filled with a biocompatible material called gutta percha and sealed closed. A tooth that has had a root canal may have had extensive decay and become weakened. Your dentist will determine if a crown or another restoration is necessary to prevent the tooth from fracture.

At Today’s Dental Comfort, we perform root canals on patients in the Burton, MI and surrounding area. If you have questions about this dental treatment please call our office at (810) 736-9778 for more information.