Root Canals

What is a Root Canal?

A Root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it. There are a number of reasons why a tooth might need a root canal. Some of the most common ones that we see involve:

• Dental abscesses
• Deep areas of tooth decay
• Past trauma to the tooth
• Tooth death
• Retreating a failed root canal
• Severe pain or hypersensitivity
• Cracked teeth

During your exam, we’ll utilize advanced technology that allows us to pinpoint otherwise difficult-to-diagnose conditions.

What to Expect

There’s a common misconception that getting a root canal can be a torturous experience. Not so! DeSoto Family Dentistry uses special techniques to make your treatment as comfortable as any other type of dental work.

During your visit, we’ll numb the tooth being worked on. You can even elect to have a light sedative, such as laughing gas, to ease your mind. Since severely infected teeth can be difficult to numb, active abscesses may need to be pre-treated with antibiotic therapy leading up to your appointment. Once the swelling has gone down, we’ll create an access point in the top of your tooth to remove the diseased nerve inside. Next, the nerve chambers are thoroughly cleaned and sealed off, preventing reinfection.

After your root canal treatment, we’ll want to place a crown over your tooth so that the non-vital enamel doesn’t easily chip away with everyday use. For more information on the type of crowns we provide at DeSoto Family Dentistry please see this page.

Gentle Dentistry in DeSoto, TX

At DeSoto Family Dentistry, we treat you like our own family. For root canals, checkups, or even a second opinion, contact our DeSoto dentist office today.