Root Canals

General Dentistry, Family Dentists & Emergency Dentists in Puyallup, WA

Root Canals services offered in Puyallup, WA

Root canals are common dental procedures to improve oral health, but they’re also one of the most feared. The truth is that a root canal can save a tooth, and with today’s state-of-the-art technology, they’re quite a simple procedure. At South Hill Family Dentistry in Puyallup, Washington, their providers regularly perform root canals to preserve teeth that have suffered severe damage or infection. If you have a decaying tooth, you may not need an extraction. Schedule your root canal consultation online or over the phone today.

What is a root canal?

Each of your teeth has a soft area of nerves, blood vessels, and tissue at the center called the tooth pulp. Sometimes, the pulp gets damaged or infected, which can compromise the integrity and health of the entire tooth.

A root canal is a simple outpatient dental procedure to remove damaged pulp and preserve your tooth. During a root canal, the South Hill Family Dentistry team cleans the pulp canal, removes all signs of infection, and seals the cavity to prevent future issues.

If left untreated, pulp infections can lead to tooth discoloration or necessitate tooth extraction. Root canals can prevent these complications and save your natural tooth to keep your smile intact.

Why would I need a root canal?

South Hill Family Dentistry often recommends a root canal if the pulp inside a tooth is damaged. Tooth pulp can suffer damage due to an injury, infection, or repeated dental procedures.

Damage triggers pulp to break down and die inside your tooth. Bacteria inside your tooth begin to multiply, which may lead to infection and complications, including:

Tooth pain
Sensitivity
Swelling
Abscess
Tooth discoloration
Bone loss around the tooth root

A root canal clears out damaged pulp and infection to treat symptoms and improve oral health. A root canal can save your natural tooth and help you avoid tooth extraction or tooth loss.

Are root canals painful?

No. While many people think that root canals are complicated, painful dental procedures, the truth is that they take just a couple of hours in an outpatient setting. In fact, root canals treat tooth pain from infection, and you may leave the office in less pain than when you arrived.

Root canals are performed under local anesthesia, and the South Hill Family Dentistry team prioritizes your comfort. There’s little to no downtime following a root canal. You can usually leave the office immediately after the procedure is over and return to your normal daily activities.

If you’ve suffered an injury or infection, it’s time to find out if a root canal could be right for you. Call South Hill Family Dentistry or request a consultation online.