Root Canal

Root Canal services offered in Bedford, TX

Root canals are a common endodontic treatment that addresses damaged or infected tooth pulp. When performed by a qualified dentist, they can preserve your tooth, preventing the need for an extraction. At Trinity Dental Care, Gayathri Gunda, DDS, and the team offer root canals to people of all ages. To see if you can benefit from a root canal, call the office or request one online today.

Root Canal Q & A

What are root canals?

A root canal is an outpatient procedure that removes the soft center of your tooth, called the pulp. Pulp helps your tooth grow, but it isn’t necessary for its long-term survival.

If you develop a toothache, a root canal can ease pain, keep the infection from spreading, and save your permanent tooth.

What types of problems can root canals treat?

Root canals remove the tooth pulp that’s infected or inflamed. Leading causes of pulp damage include:

Deep decay
Chipped or cracked teeth
Multiple dental treatments on a single tooth
Getting hit in the mouth

If you experience frequent tooth pain, swelling, or a sensation of heat in your gums, contact Trinity Dental Care right away.

What does a root canal involve?

Root canal treatment typically requires two appointments spaced about a week apart.

At the initial consultation, your dentist conducts an oral exam, reviews your dental health history, and asks about your symptoms. Afterward, they take a series of X-rays to assess the condition of your tooth pulp.

If your dentist determines that infection or inflammation is present, they administer a local anesthetic and remove the pulp from the center of your tooth. They clean the center of your tooth out and fill it with a rubbery material called gutta-percha.

They then take impressions of your tooth and send them to a laboratory that creates a custom dental crown. At the end of your first appointment, your dentist bonds a temporary crown to your tooth, allowing you to bite and chew comfortably.

About a week later, you return to Trinity Dental Care. Your dentist removes the temporary crown and replaces it with the permanent one. After bonding your crown in place, your dentist assesses your bite, polishes your teeth, and sends you home with a list of care instructions.

What is recovery like following a root canal?

Following a root canal, it’s normal to experience some mild pain, swelling, and increased tooth sensitivity. Take over-the-counter pain medication or apply a bag of ice to your cheek for relief.

Continue to brush and floss like normal, but be very careful around your treated tooth. Avoid biting down on your tooth until you receive the permanent dental crown.

To explore root canals, request a consultation at Trinity Dental Care. Call the office or request one online today.