A root canal from your dentist in Wake Forest, NC, can help your smile
Did you know that having a root canal can mean the difference between living with missing teeth, and keeping your smile intact? Here at Smile Sculptors of Wake Forest, in Wake Forest, NC, Dr. Shanean Michelle Anderson offers a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental services, including root canal treatment to help your smile.
What root canal treatment can do for you
When you have tooth decay, it can often be treated with just a simple filling, especially if the decay has only penetrated the top two layers of your tooth: the enamel and the dentin. If you have deep tooth decay which has reached the innermost layer of your tooth (i.e. the pulp) a root canal is in order. The pulp is where the nerves and blood supply to the tooth are, and when this area becomes damaged or bruised, inflammation, fluid, and pressure build up inside your tooth, causing pain.
Tooth decay isn’t the only way that pulp can become damaged—both dental trauma and chronic grinding/clenching can result in damaged pulp tissue. The only way to relieve this type of pressure and pain inside your tooth is by having a root canal.
There are some signs and symptoms to look out for, which may signal you need a root canal. You need to pay attention to:
- Tooth pain that increases with exposure to hot or cold foods and beverages
- Tooth pain that increases even after dental treatment including fillings or crowns
- Sharp, stabbing tooth pain when you bite or chew
- A white or red bump on your gums next to a tooth root
- Blood or pus draining from the bump on your gums
- A tooth that is becoming noticeably darker or grayer compared to the teeth next to it
During root canal treatment, Dr. Anderson will create a small opening in the top of your tooth. The diseased and infected pulp tissue is removed through the opening and a sedative material is placed inside your tooth. This material eliminates infection and dries out your tooth to relieve pressure. The sedative is then removed and an inert material is placed inside your tooth, completing the treatment.
Need dental care? Give us a call
Root canal treatment is easy and can mean the difference between losing a tooth and saving your smile. To learn more about root canal treatment, call Dr. Shanean Michelle Anderson of Smile Sculptors of Wake Forest, in Wake Forest, NC, today by dialing (919) 825-1795.