Root Canal Treatment Canton

Gentle & Effective Pain Relief

Many patients are fearful or anxious when it comes to dental appointments, but there is one service that can intimidate even the bravest patients – root canals. However, despite its reputation in movies, TV, and pop culture, root canal treatment is not the cause of the pain many patients associate it with. Instead, a root canal can actually relieve a toothache and dental sensitivity and enable your dentist to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be removed. At Robison Dental Group in Canton, we offer comfortable, effective root canal treatment to relieve pain and renew your smile. Call our team to find out more or schedule an appointment.

Why Choose Robison Dental Group for Root Canal Treatment?

  • Patient Comfort Is Our Top Priority
  • Skilled Dentist with Years of Experience
  • Sedation Dentistry Options Available

When Is a Root Canal Needed?

“Root canal” is actually a bit of a misnomer. The root canal is the inner layer of the tooth’s root system through which the nerve tissue runs and attaches the tooth to gum tissue and the jawbone. Root canal therapy is needed when dental damage or decay reaches the inner layer of the tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue in the center of teeth that houses the tooth’s nerve. When the nerve is touched by dental damage, the result is the painful toothache and dental sensitivity that most patients associate with root canal therapy. In order to protect the tooth from extraction, the nerve and pulp tissue need to be removed.

Signs You May Need a Root Canal

The only way to know for sure that you need a root canal is to visit our team for an examination. We will assess your situation, and if you need a root canal, we can begin treatment right away. The majority of root canal cases are seen on an emergency basis, so please call our office right away if you notice any of the following warning signs of root canal infection:

  • Severe toothache that may be a constant throb or sharp pain when biting down
  • Dental sensitivity when the tooth is exposed to hot or cold temperatures
  • Infection or inflammation in the gums surrounding the tooth
  • Dark discoloration of the tooth typically near the gumline

The Root Canal Treatment Process

Your root canal procedure will be quick and comfortable. We begin by numbing the area around the tooth to be treated. We drill a small access hole from the top of the tooth to the interior pulp layer. Then, the damaged pulp and nerve tissue are removed. In some cases, we will need to use oral or topical antibiotics to remove the infected tissue before completing treatment. Next, we refill the tooth with a biocompatible material and seal the access hole we created. In most cases, we will also place a dental crown to protect the treated tooth.

The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal

Despite their unfair reputation, root canals actually offer several benefits, the primary one being pain relief – since Dr. Robison is literally removing the source of the infection, your pain shouldn’t return nor should the infection spread to other parts of your smile! Plus, you’re receiving a dental crown to protect the tooth, ensuring that it looks natural and functions optimally moving forward. Root canals are also considered quite cost-effective; the comparative price is much cheaper than losing a tooth and needing to have it replaced!

Root Canal FAQs

Is a Root Canal Painful?

While root canal therapy is often said to be very painful, the truth is that with the use of anesthesia, the procedure itself involves no more pain than you would experience during a filling. It’s the infection itself that inflames the nerve-filled tissue and causes discomfort; in this sense, root canal therapy is actually a form of pain relief. It is true, however, that the area around the tooth will be sensitive for a few days after treatment.

Will I Need a Root Canal Even if My Tooth Isn’t Bothering Me?

Sometimes tooth pain goes away on its own, but this doesn’t mean the infection is cured. In fact, sometimes infected teeth won’t cause any pain at all (in which case they’ll usually be discovered during a routine examination). One explanation could be that the body has accommodated the infection enough that it doesn’t exceed your personal pain threshold. It might also mean the nerve endings within the tooth have died. We’ll use the advanced technology at our practice to accurately diagnose your situation and decide if root canal therapy is truly necessary.

How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?

The exact amount of treatment time depends on your individual procedure and which tooth is being worked on. In many cases, root canal therapy can be completed over the course of a single visit and normally only takes about 1 to 2 hours. That said, there are times when you’ll need a follow-up appointment to have your crown or other restoration placed.

What Happens After a Root Canal Treatment?

You can use over-the-counter pain medications and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen to deal with the discomfort once the anesthesia wears off. You’ll also want to avoid chewing with the treated tooth until the filling and crown can be placed. Unless you receive different instructions, continue to brush and floss normally. Note that while tenderness is normal, visible swelling could be a sign of an infection or an allergic reaction, so call us right away if this happens.

Will I Always Need a Dental Crown After a Root Canal?

A crown will be placed in most cases to help the tooth return to full strength. This is especially true for the posterior teeth (as in the molars and premolars). In some cases, root canal therapy may be performed on a tooth that already has a crown; in these cases, the original crown can sometimes be saved and restored with tooth-colored filling after treatment is complete.

More to Explore

I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I am Worried About Gum Disease I am Looking for a Dentist for My Child I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want to Enhance My Smile I Want a Straighter Smile I am Scared of the Dentist I Have Jaw Pain I Have a Dental Emergency View Our Services