Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is sometimes overlooked as the tooth-saving procedure that it is. Having root canal therapy is often the only alternative to extraction when a tooth develops an infection. At Sheldon Family Dental, both Dr. Ali and Dr. Carla are aware of this procedure’s poor reputation. However, root canal treatment actually relieves pain rather than causes it, and our gentle dentists have years of experience.
Modern Technology for Better Dentistry
At our Canton, MI dental practice, our dentists use microscope-assisted dentistry to complete root canal treatment effectively and efficiently, making the procedure seem no more invasive than an average filling. And because your comfort is important to us, we always make sure the tooth and surrounding area is properly anesthetized before getting started. Numbing the tooth is often a huge relief for patients who have a toothache.
If you feel a little anxious about having root canal treatment, we offer nitrous oxide to help you relax. Just let us know so that we can look after you both physically and emotionally for the best experience possible.
What Are the Signs of Needing Root Canal Treatment?
The only way to know for certain that root canal therapy is necessary is to have an exam in our Canton dental office.
Here are a few signs that point toward an infection:
- Inflammation/swelling of the face, jaw, neck, or gums
- Toothache or jaw pain
- Sensitivity to temperature changes
- A small pimple-like lesion on the gums
- Discoloration of the tooth
You may have one or all of the above symptoms. We recommend contacting our dental office to book an emergency exam with Dr. Ali or Dr. Carla because waiting too long could result in the need for extraction.
What Is a Root Canal?
Endodontics, or root canal dentistry, aims to eliminate the infection from a tooth or pulp chamber. The pulp chamber is the part of the tooth known as the “root canal.”
We will need to take an x-ray of the area. Infection often appears as a dark shadow in x-rays. Other tests, like temperature tests, might be necessary to diagnose the proper course of treatment.
Once our dentists determine a root canal is necessary, they will discuss the procedure with you. It generally consists of cleaning out the bacteria and infection, removing the pulp, placing medication, and sealing the tooth with a temporary filling until it heals completely. You can expect to feel improvement right away, though some residual discomfort for a few days is normal as part of your body’s natural healing process.
In a week or two, we will have you back to check healing and place a final restoration. In some instances, a filling will be enough, but in most cases, a crown will provide more protection and prolong the life of your tooth.
Do You Have Tooth Pain?
We welcome emergency dental patients in our Canton dental office during regular business hours and offer new patient specials. Many of our new patients are from right here in Canton, nearby Plymouth, Livonia, Ann Arbor, and Westland.
