(931) 388-4315Root Canal Therapy – Columbia, TN
Saving Your Teeth from Infection
If you have a toothache, Dr. Goodman may recommend having root canal therapy performed. Despite its reputation, this treatment is nowhere near as painful as many people believe, and it’s often your only option for saving an infected tooth from extraction. If you think you need a root canal, call our office right away; our team will use the latest techniques and technology to keep you as comfortable as possible during the procedure.
Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is intended to treat severely damaged, decayed, or infected teeth. The only way to know for sure if the procedure is necessary is to have a dentist examine your tooth. That said, several symptoms could point to a dental issue that might require root canal therapy:
- Severe tooth pain that does not go away on its own after 24 hours.
- One specific tooth being sensitive to hot or cold temperatures.
- Discomfort whenever you bite or chew.
- Swollen, red gum tissue around the affected tooth.
- A pimple-like bump on the gums.
Any one of these symptoms on their own is cause for concern; if you notice any of them, call our office right away. Our team will schedule an emergency appointment for you (ideally on the same day as your call) so that we can identify the source of your pain and determine whether or not a root canal is needed.
The Root Canal Process
First of all, your mouth will be numbed to help keep you comfortable during your procedure. If you’re anxious or afraid, we may recommend using some form of dental sedation to ensure that you remain calm while we’re working on your smile.
Once the treatment begins, we’ll make a small hole in your enamel so that we can access the pulp. After removing the infected tissue, we’ll thoroughly clean the inside of the tooth to make sure there aren’t any harmful bacteria remaining. After filling the space with a biocompatible material, the remaining step is to place a crown. Said crown can be made out of lifelike materials that blend in with the rest of the smile so that most people won’t be able to tell that you had dental work done.
The Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is nowhere near as frightening as its reputation suggests. In fact, the procedure has many important benefits for your smile:
- It allows you to preserve your natural smile. An infected tooth that goes untreated will eventually need to be extracted. However, with root canal therapy, we can stop the infection before it grows too severe, allowing you to keep the tooth while protecting your overall oral health.
- It puts a stop to your pain. The bacteria causing the infection as well as the damaged parts of the pulp will be removed, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile comfortably again.
- It’s virtually painless thanks to modern techniques. Because we numb your mouth at the beginning of the procedure, root canal therapy is typically no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.