Root Canals
General and Cosmetic Dentistry located in Houston and Pearland, TX
Root canal therapy is quick, effective, and prevents the need for an extraction — helping your dentist to preserve your permanent tooth. At TLN Family Dental, general and cosmetic dentists Tammeka Nickleberry, DDS, Esther Oluwo, DDS, Taylor Provost, DDS, and Precious Ude, DDS, boast years of experience performing root canal therapy. To make an appointment, call the nearest office in Houston, Meyer Park, or Pearland, Texas, or book online today.
A root canal is a procedure designed to preserve a permanent tooth. During treatment, your TLN Family Dental provider uses special tools to remove the pulp from your tooth –– a soft material made of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Removing the pulp relieves the pain, stops the infection from spreading, and reduces the risk of other oral health problems.
TLN Family Dental uses root canal therapy to treat damaged or an infected tooth pulp. Damage or infection may occur due to:
If you experience tooth pain, swelling, or a sensation of heat in your gums, and they don’t improve with at-home treatment, like taking anti-inflammatory medication, contact TLN Family Dental immediately.
At TLN Family Dental, root canal therapy typically takes two visits.
Your TLN Family Dental provider reviews your dental records, asks about your symptoms, performs an oral exam, and takes digital X-rays. If X-rays reveal pulp damage or an infection, you qualify for treatment.
Your dentist numbs your mouth with a local anesthetic and uses special tools to remove the pulp from your affected tooth. Next, they rinse out your tooth and fill it with a material called gutta-percha.
After the gutta-percha dries, your dentist takes impressions of your tooth and covers it with a temporary crown. Then, they send your impressions to a nearby dental lab.
When the dental lab finishes your custom crown, you visit TLN Family Dental the second time. Your dentist bonds your custom crown in place, polishes it, and provides care instructions.
After a root canal, you may experience some mild swelling and increased sensitivity after the anesthetic wears off.
Avoid biting down on the treated tooth and eat only soft foods, like scrambled eggs and soup for the first few days. Continue brushing and flossing as normal, but be gentle when you do.
To see if you can benefit from root canal therapy, make an appointment at TLN Family Dental by calling the nearest office or booking online today.