Root Canals Specialist
Full Circle Dental Care
Implant & General Dentist & Invisalign & General Dentistry located in Del City, OK
If you have a severely infected or damaged tooth, a root canal can restore your oral health while enabling you to keep most of your tooth structure intact. Samuel Sigmon, DDS, provides safe and effective root canals at Full Circle Dental Care in Del City, Oklahoma. Call the office or use the online tool to schedule your visit today.
Root Canals Q&A
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a treatment for a tooth that has damaged or infected pulp. Your tooth pulp is the tissue inside of your tooth, and it’s made up of connective fibers, blood vessels, and nerves. When it becomes infected or damaged, it can swell and pinch the nerves inside, which is incredibly painful.
When Dr. Sigmon performs a root canal, he removes all of the damaged pulp tissue inside your tooth and replaces it with a compound called gutta-percha, which is a rubber-like substance that seals up your inner tooth.
In the past, the only method available for treating damaged or infected pulp was to extract the entire tooth. Root canals represent a great step forward, then, because they restore your oral health while allowing you to keep much of your natural tooth structures intact.
Do I need a root canal?
Some of the warning signs that might indicate you have infected or damaged tooth pulp include:
- Intense toothache
- Darkened or discolored tooth
- Pus around your gum line
- Small pimple or abscess on your gum near your tooth root
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, call Full Circle Dental Care and schedule an appointment with Dr. Sigmon immediately. Damaged and infected teeth don’t get better on their own, and can actually lead to bigger problems if left untreated, like damage to neighboring teeth and tooth loss.
Do root canals hurt?
It’s a common misconception that root canals are particularly painful or laborious procedures, but that’s largely a myth that’s been perpetuated by movies and TV shows.
In reality, a root canal doesn’t take very long, and the procedure produces minimal discomfort. Dr. Sigmon treats your tooth and surrounding tissues with a local anesthetic before your procedure, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during your procedure.
He also offers a range of sedation dentistry options to keep you more calm and relaxed throughout your treatment if you’re still feeling particularly anxious.
What surprises most people is the fact that root canals actually alleviate your pain. Infected or damaged tooth pulp can be immensely painful, and by eliminating the infection and restoring your tooth, a root canal can make you feel significantly better.
To learn more or schedule your root canal, call Full Circle Dental Care or use the online tool to book an appointment with Dr. Sigmon today.