Root Canal Symptoms
Root canal treatment is most often used to treat a tooth that has experienced infection or injury in the dental pulp, which is the innermost layer of the tooth. The following are common symptoms that indicate you may need a root canal:
- Prolonged oral pain
- Increased tooth sensitivity to hot or cold liquids and foods
- A discolored or darkened tooth
- A tooth that is tender to chewing and other pressure
- Draining into the lymph nodes and the surrounding bone and gingival tissues
In some cases, a patient needing root canal treatment may not show any symptoms.
Root Canal Surgery
Before your root canal treatment, our dentists will X-ray your mouth and apply an anesthetic to numb the area. We then place a protective dental dam over the tooth to keep it clean before making a small opening in the surface of the tooth. Drs. Eli Stephans, Haresh Modha and Masoud Shoukoohi will clean and shape the dental pulp, removing any infected tissues, and then fill the tooth with a biocompatible material called gutta percha. Finally, we place a filling over the opening in the tooth to seal it. In some cases, another restoration like a dental crown is needed to protect the tooth and restore its structure.
If you have any questions, or if you think you may need a root canal in Cartersville, Georgia, please do not hesitate to contact Mockingbird Dental Associates at 770-386-3908 and schedule your next visit. We are eager to improve your oral health!