Endodontics in Springfield
Root canals that can save your tooth.
A root canal treats infected or damaged pulp inside a tooth. It can relieve the pain an infection causes and may save a tooth that would otherwise need to be pulled.
What is a root canal?
Endodontics is the study and treatment of dental pulp, which is the work that goes into a root canal. The pulp is the soft area in the center of a tooth. It contains blood vessels, connective tissue, and the nerve, and the root canal runs from the tip of the tooth root to the pulp chamber.
During a root canal, your dentist removes the infected or damaged pulp, cleans and reshapes the canal, and fills it. In most cases, a crown is then placed over the tooth for extra protection.
The nerve’s role is sensory, giving you the feeling of hot and cold. After a root canal you will no longer feel those sensations in that tooth, but it does not change how the tooth works.
Why a root canal may be needed
Pulp damage is often caused by deep decay from a cavity that was never treated. It can also come from several dental procedures on the same tooth, a large filling, a chip or crack, a defective crown, or an injury to the face.
Once the pulp is damaged, bacteria can multiply inside the tooth. That can lead to an abscess, a pus-filled pocket at the end of the root. An infection can also cause swelling in the face, neck, or head, bone loss near the tip of the root, or drainage into the gums.
Common signs include severe pain when you chew or press on the tooth, sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers, darkening of the tooth, tender or swollen gums nearby, and a pimple on the gums that keeps coming back. Pain that wakes you up or a dull ache can also be signs. The only way to know for sure is for your dentist to check.
The root canal procedure
Your dentist starts with x-rays and an exam to find the source of the problem. If a root canal is a better option than an extraction, we schedule your treatment.
At your appointment, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and sedation dentistry is available if you need it. The tooth is isolated with a rubber dam, a small opening is made, and the infected pulp and bacteria are cleaned out. The canals are reshaped and filled with a biocompatible material, and the tooth is closed with a temporary filling or crown while it heals.
Teeth with oddly shaped roots, or with more than one root, can take longer to treat, and some root canals take more than one visit. Once the tooth has healed, a crown is usually placed to protect it.
After your root canal
Do not eat or drink until the numbness wears off, which usually takes no more than a few hours. Some tenderness and sensitivity is normal afterward, and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen can help. Most patients say any soreness eases within a few days.
Avoid chewing on that side while it heals, and if you have a temporary crown, skip hard or chewy foods that could dislodge it. Keep brushing and flossing as usual. If your bite feels off after treatment, call us so we can adjust it.
Is this right for me?
Ask us about a root canal if you:
- Have severe pain when you chew or press on a tooth
- Have sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers
- Have a tooth that has darkened or changed color
- Have tender or swollen gums, or a recurring pimple on the gums, near a tooth
- Have deep decay, a crack, or a chip in a tooth
- Would rather keep your natural tooth than have it pulled
What to expect
Your visit, step by step.
- X-rays and an exam to find the source of the problem.
- Numbing with a local anesthetic, with sedation available if you need it.
- Removal of the infected pulp, then cleaning, shaping, and filling the canals.
- A temporary filling or crown while the tooth heals.
- In most cases, a crown to protect the tooth.
Questions we hear
Root canal therapy FAQs
Does a root canal hurt?
The tooth is numbed before treatment, so the procedure itself should not be painful. Patients often compare it to getting a filling. Much of the pain people link with root canals actually comes from the infection beforehand. Some sensitivity afterward is normal and can usually be eased with over-the-counter pain relievers.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Lingering sensitivity, pain when eating, pain that wakes you up, or a dull ache in a tooth can all be signs. The only way to know for sure is for your dentist to check the tooth for infected or damaged pulp.
Why not just pull the tooth?
When it is possible, keeping your natural tooth is usually the better choice. A root canal can save the tooth and avoid an extraction followed by a replacement such as a bridge or dental implant, which can cost more. If a tooth is too damaged to save, extraction may be the better option, and you can talk with your dentist about it.
Will my tooth look different afterward?
A root canal does not change the look of your smile. The crown placed afterward is made to look like a natural tooth.
What should I do after a root canal?
Wait to eat or drink until the numbness wears off, avoid chewing on that side while it heals, and skip hard or chewy foods if you have a temporary crown. Keep brushing and flossing as usual, and call us if your bite feels off.
Ready when you are
Let’s make your next visit something to smile about.
New patients are welcome. Call us or send a request, and we will help you take the next comfortable step.
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