Jul 31, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Root Canal Treatment, Blog
Millions of root canal treatments are performed every year, making it an effective and safe way to save a damaged tooth. Thanks to modern dentistry, this procedure is practically painless and provides immediate relief from symptoms.
Anatomy
To understand root canal treatment, it’s important to know the anatomy of a tooth. Beneath the hard enamel and the dentin layer lies the pulp, which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. The pulp nourishes the tooth during development, but once the tooth is fully formed, it can receive nourishment from surrounding tissues, making the pulp less essential.
Necessity
The pulp can become infected, inflamed, or damaged due to decay, injury, repeated dental procedures, or a faulty crown. Without treatment, the damaged pulp can lead to severe pain or an abscess. Root canal treatment is often the only way to save the tooth and avoid extraction. Preserving a natural tooth is almost always the best option, offering better functionality, a natural appearance, and long-term oral health benefits.
Procedure
Many patients find root canal treatment comparable to getting a regular filling. The process involves:
- X-rays to assess the affected tooth.
- Local anesthesia to ensure comfort.
- Placement of a dental dam to isolate the treatment area.
- Removal of the pulp, thorough cleaning of the interior, and filling with a special material.
- Sealing the tooth for protection.
- Placement of a crown to restore the tooth’s functionality and appearance.
Most patients can resume normal activities immediately after the procedure, which is typically permanent in its results.
If you’re looking for a root canal dentist in the Conyers area, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
Oct 16, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Root Canal Treatment, Blog
Despite maintaining good oral hygiene and regular checkups, the need for root canal treatment remains common. Several factors can contribute to the necessity of this procedure, and understanding them can help you take preventive measures.
Decay:
The most common reason for root canal treatment is advanced tooth decay that reaches the pulp, causing infection or abscesses. This severe decay often leads to pain and sensitivity. A root canal helps avoid tooth extraction by removing the infection and restoring the tooth.
Trauma:
Accidents such as sports injuries, falls, or car accidents can cause significant trauma to a tooth. Even if the damage isn’t immediately visible, the impact can sever the nerve, leading to tooth death and the need for a root canal over time.
Genetics:
Genetic factors can influence the strength and structure of your teeth. Some people inherit softer teeth that are more prone to decay, making it harder to avoid infections even with good dental care.
Tooth Fracture:
Teeth can fracture from biting hard foods, grinding, or habits like nail biting. Even small cracks can allow bacteria to infiltrate the pulp and cause infections. In such cases, a root canal may be needed to save the tooth.
Deep Cavity:
A deep cavity can provide a breeding ground for bacteria, causing the tooth to become inflamed or infected. While deep cavities may not cause immediate pain, they can lead to significant damage if left untreated. Regular dental checkups are crucial for detecting cavities early before they escalate.
Previous Dental Work:
Repeated or extensive dental procedures, such as large fillings or crowns, can sometimes weaken the tooth structure or irritate the nerves. If inflammation occurs, a root canal may be necessary to preserve the tooth.
If you experience any of these issues, or if your dentist identifies a risk, root canal therapy may be the best option to restore and protect your oral health.
Are dental issues holding you back? Take control of your oral health by booking an appointment with our experienced team at our Conyers dental office.
Aug 28, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Root Canal Treatment, Blog
A tooth that has been damaged by decay or trauma may need endodontic treatment, also called root canal therapy, in order to save the tooth. Although it may sound like a scary procedure, advances in dentistry have made it a much less painful or upsetting process than it used to be. This treatment is worth it to restore your smile as naturally as possible.
How do you know you might need endodontics?
You may experience pain in the tooth, sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages, or swelling in the area. Severe cases may have a discharge of pus near the tooth. However, not all cases of a badly damaged tooth result in noticeable symptoms. That’s one reason it’s important to maintain regular checkups with your dentist, who will pick up on problems with a tooth that you may not realize is damaged. Examination and testing such as X-rays can help diagnose a tooth that is in dire need of repair.
When possible, dentists strive to save your real tooth. Sometimes the best way to do that is through root canal therapy, which involves removing the damaged tooth pulp from the interior of the tooth. Using local anesthesia to make you comfortable, the dentist or endodontist uses special tools to enter the root canal, remove the pulp, and clean the area thoroughly. Once the tooth is ready, a crown is usually placed on top of the existing tooth to protect it from future damage and to complete the process. Sometimes antibiotics are prescribed if an infection was present to help ensure that you are in the best of health.
Endodontic treatment is often compared by patients to simply getting a regular tooth filling. The procedure is usually completed in one office visit and it won’t be long before you are back to your normal routine, with a fully restored natural tooth in your smile.
Take the first step towards a confident smile. Contact our Conyers dental office to schedule your consultation!
Jun 4, 2021 | Dental Topics 3, Root Canal Treatment, Blog
Root canal therapy treats the interior of the tooth. The final step in root canal treatment is placing a permanent restoration to protect the tooth and restore it to full form and function. This procedure should be performed within one month of your root canal treatment to decrease the risk of re-contamination or breakage of the treated tooth. Having a permanent dental restoration placed will extend the success of root canal treatment by preventing damaging leakage or fracture.
The general condition of the treated tooth and the amount of tooth structure lost will determine if the tooth would be best restored with a permanent composite filling or a dental crown. For small cavities in front teeth with insignificant tooth structure loss, your dental professional may place a tooth-colored filling after a root canal procedure.
More often, your dentist will recommend the placement of a dental crown to restore a root canal treated tooth. Teeth that have had root canal therapy can be fragile, and a dental crown provides the best protection against future bacterial contamination and fracture. A dental crown is made in a laboratory and custom fit your tooth. Crowns are made of porcelain, metal, or a combination of the two. Dental crowns can be placed on front or back teeth, and are especially appropriate for molars that must withstand heavy chewing forces.
Having a root canal treated tooth restored with a dental crown or permanent filling will extend the success of your treatment. If you are showing symptoms of a damaged or diseased tooth, a properly performed root canal treatment and permanent restoration can save your tooth and extend its function for a lifetime.
We treat patients from Conyers and the surrounding area
Aug 13, 2021 | Dental Topics 3, Root Canal Treatment, Blog
There are many misconceptions about root canal treatment. This process is recommended when your tooth pulp is infected or damaged, and the treatment is needed to save your tooth. The damaged pulp is removed from your tooth and filled with a material that prevents future infections. A crown is often recommended to be placed over the tooth to complete the procedure and preserve the tooth. If your dentist recommends this treatment for you, it may save you some worry if you know the truth about the procedure.
Truth about the pain
Root canal treatment has advanced over the years, making it much less painful than its previous reputation. Anesthesia is used during the procedure, and most patients say it is no worse than getting a filling.
Truth about office visits
The procedure can usually be completed in just one or two office visits. Several factors impact the number of appointments, such as the extent of infection, complexity of the procedure, and need for referral to a different health care professional. Your dentist will be able to advise how many office visits are needed for your treatment.
Truth about symptoms
Your tooth does not absolutely have to be painful to indicate the need for a root canal. A dentist may diagnose a serious problem even when you don’t feel discomfort. That’s one reason regular checkups are important, so that issues can be caught.
Truth about cause
It is a myth that root canal treatment is caused by illnesses like heart disease, arthritis, or kidney disease. Medical research has proven these long-time myths to be untrue.
Truth about success
The benefits of root canal treatment can last a long time, even permanently. Sometimes patients experience broken teeth after treatment, but dentists attribute this to failure in the restoration or tooth construction instead of the root canal treatment itself. Patients who do not opt to get crowns tend to experience tooth breakage more often.
If you live in the Conyers area contact us today
Nov 18, 2022 | Dental Topics 3, Root Canal Treatment, Blog
There are many misconceptions about root canal treatment. This process is recommended when your tooth pulp is infected or damaged, and the treatment is needed to save your tooth. The damaged pulp is removed from your tooth and filled with a material that prevents future infections. A crown is often recommended to be placed over the tooth to complete the procedure and preserve the tooth. If your dentist recommends this treatment for you, it may save you some worry if you know the truth about the procedure.
Truth about the pain
Root canal treatment has advanced over the years, making it much less painful than its previous reputation. Anesthesia is used during the procedure, and most patients say it is no worse than getting a filling.
Truth about office visits
The procedure can usually be completed in just one or two office visits. Several factors impact the number of appointments, such as the extent of infection, complexity of the procedure, and need for referral to a different health care professional. Your dentist will be able to advise how many office visits are needed for your treatment.
Truth about symptoms
Your tooth does not absolutely have to be painful to indicate the need for a root canal. A dentist may diagnose a serious problem even when you don’t feel discomfort. That’s one reason regular checkups are important, so that issues can be caught.
Truth about cause
It is a myth that root canal treatment is caused by illnesses like heart disease, arthritis, or kidney disease. Medical research has proven these long-time myths to be untrue.
Truth about success
The benefits of root canal treatment can last a long time, even permanently. Sometimes patients experience broken teeth after treatment, but dentists attribute this to failure in the restoration or tooth construction instead of the root canal treatment itself. Patients who do not opt to get crowns tend to experience tooth breakage more often.
Our dental office is located in Conyers
