Our general dentists, orthodontist, and periodontist together provide a team approach to your dental needs.

With three general dentists, an orthodontist and a periodontist on
staff we can cover almost any dental need- all under one roof!

Root Canal: Procedures and Benefits

Any tooth pain should be taken seriously. It may also be a sign of an infection inside your tooth that needs a root canal, also called endodontics. ***

The word “endo” comes from the Greek language and means “inside” or within. Endodontics is a dental treatment “inside” of a tooth.

A root canal procedure is one of the most common dental treatments. It can save your tooth from needing to be extracted and prevent the need for implants or bridges.

At the center of your tooth is pulp tissue. It is a collection of blood vessels that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks, and chips, or repeated dental procedures.

The symptoms of root canal infection include:

  1. Severe, throbbing toothache
  2. The sensitivity of the tooth and swollen gums
  3. Chronic sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
  4. A pimple (abscess) on the gums
  5. A tooth that has darkened

You may not have experienced any of these symptoms, however, you may have an infected tooth pulp. This infection can usually be found during routine dental hygiene care checkup.

Endodontics, root canal treatment, is the treatment of the pulp and surrounding tissues of a tooth. The root canal procedure begins by anesthetizing the tooth with local anesthesia, so it is painless. Nitrous oxide additionally can be used to make you comfortable during the procedure. When root canal therapy is performed, the pulp chamber of the tooth is removed and then filled with a suitable filling material.

Root canal treatment doesn’t cause pain, it relieves it. With modern technologies and anesthetics, root canal treatment today is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.

After root canal treatment, your tooth can be left brittle and prone to fracturing from cracks or loss of natural tooth structure from decay. Your dentist will decide on what type of restoration is needed to protect your tooth. One common restoration is a crown, which adds stability and protects your tooth from cracking or breaking apart during regular, daily use. The life of your tooth may be prolonged for many years or even decades due to the root canal treatment.

Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and schedule a root canal treatment, if necessary. Call (301) 610-9909 for an appointment. We serve the Rockville, MD, and Washington, D.C. area.

*** For more information on root canals, visit the American Association of Endodontists website.

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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Address
14955 Shady Grove Rd., Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20850
Fax
301.610.9424