Root Canal & Endodontics in College Park

What Does a Root Canal Do?

Your tooth’s roots have canals that are filled with a soft tissue. Advanced tooth decay, a crack in your tooth, or an injury can cause that root pulp to become inflamed and infected. This inflammation causes significant pain and can lead to health problems if not removed. During a root canal, our dentist cleans the infected pulp out of the tooth, relieving the pain and restoring your tooth’s health.

Why Do I Need a Root Canal?

Tooth roots with infected pulp tissue cannot often heal themselves, so having a root canal in College Park is necessary. The treatment is often the best way to save the tooth. Here are a few signs that treatment is needed:

• Tooth sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures
• Pain when biting or chewing
• Persistent tooth or gum pain
• Pain when biting or chewing
• Swelling around the tooth
• Discoloration of the tooth

Which Type of Dentist Performs Root Canals?

While a general dentist can often handle routine root canal procedures, an endodontist is a specialized root canal dentist who is qualified to perform more complicated tooth surgeries. Endodontists are also qualified to place implants.

Does Getting a Root Canal Procedure Hurt?

Our skilled providers make the procedure virtually painless by thoroughly numbing your tooth and surrounding gum tissue before beginning. Once your tooth is numb, here’s what you can expect to happen:

1. The dentist places a small shield around your tooth to keep the area clean.
2. An opening in your tooth crown is made to reach the pulp chamber.
3. Your dentist removes the tooth pulp and uses a few instruments to clean and shape the canals.
4. Root canals are disinfected with a fluid to remove any lingering bacteria.
5. Your dentist will fill and seal the canals with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and an adhesive cement.
6. A temporary root canal crown is placed on the tooth to prevent its fracturing.

What’s the Average Root Canal Cost?

Procedure costs vary, partly depending on the extent of damage to your tooth. Your price also depends on your dental insurance coverage and whether your procedure is performed by a dentist or endodontist. The type of tooth being restored affects the cost too. A back tooth has four roots, while a front tooth has only one. As a result, it’s less expensive for front-tooth root canals than molar root canals. After our dentist assesses your tooth, we’ll give you a cost estimate so schedule your evaluation today.

Do Dental Root Canals Vary in Type?

There are several endodontic procedures designed to preserve and restore teeth. Standard root canals are the most common endodontic procedures, and they can be used to treat any tooth. Sometimes, a pediatric pulpotomy can be performed instead to remove the diseased tooth pulp while leaving the nerve in place. Another type of endodontic surgery is called an apicoectomy in which the tip of the tooth root is removed.

Dental Root Canal Treatment

Infected tooth roots and pulp can be very painful. If left untreated, the infection can spread and risk your general health. If you are experiencing the symptoms of an infected tooth, call us to schedule your treatment right away.