Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal Therapy in Southfield, MI
If you are experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity, bad breath, fever, swelling, or other signs of tooth decay or infection, it’s important to seek treatment right away. Our team at Hi-Tech Family Dentistry will do everything we can to make your visit as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Our emergency dental care is designed to address pain and infection and treat the underlying cause, while making every attempt to save your tooth and restore health and function. We may be able to perform a root canal in Southfield, MI, to prevent the need for a tooth extraction due to severe dental cavities, tooth decay, or infection. Call now to schedule an appointment and get the care and pain relief you need.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is an emergency dental service that may be needed if you have a dental cavity that is too large for a filling, extensive tooth decay that is threatening the structure of your tooth, or a dental infection that has reached the interior of the tooth and its pulp or root. The treatment is an alternative to a tooth extraction, and is designed to alleviate pain, infection, decay, and damage, and restore healthy function of the tooth. Our experienced team will clean out all infected and damaged material, disinfect the interior of the tooth, and fill and seal the chamber to prevent the spread of infection.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
When you have a severe tooth problem, a root canal is the only safe alternative to a tooth extraction. Undergoing this simple, low-risk procedure offers many benefits to your oral and overall health, including:
- Alleviation of pain, discomfort, sensitivity, and infection
- Preserves natural tooth, helping you avoid the cost and discomfort of a tooth extraction and extensive dental restoration
- Prevents infection from spreading and lowers your risk of systemic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, as well as widespread infection, organ damage, and sepsis
- Restores chewing and speaking function
- Prevents complications like shifting, bite problems, chronic pain, TMJ disorder, and jawbone loss
- Improves oral and overall health
Signs You Might Need an Emergency Root Canal
Though most people experience mild or temporary tooth pain at some point in their lives, serious dental problems cause persistent, severe, and worsening symptoms that require immediate attention. We recommend that you call us right away if you have any of the following root canal symptoms:
- Constant, severe, or worsening tooth pain that cannot be relieved with painkillers
- Sensitivity to pressure or hot or cold foods or beverages
- Red, inflamed, or swollen gums that are sensitive and bleed
- Pus or discharge from the gums
- A foul taste in the mouth and/or bad breath
- Discoloration of the tooth, such as a gray or black color
- Pain when speaking, chewing, or biting
- Swelling of the cheeks, face, or jaw
- Fever, chills, and other signs of infection
- A dental abscess, or a painful, swollen cyst or pocket of pus on the gums or near the tooth
Step-by-Step Overview of the Root Canal Procedure
To determine if you need a root canal, we will do a full dental exam and take dental x-rays to evaluate the structures of your mouth and jaw. We may ask you about your symptoms, medical and dental history, lifestyle, and diet. If you are a good candidate for root canal therapy, we will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you have. The general process includes:
- Administration of anesthesia to ensure your comfort
- A small incision into the gum line to access the tooth
- A small hole drilled into the tooth to access the interior
- Removal of infected, inflamed, dead, or diseased material
- Disinfection and sterilization of the tooth’s interior
- Sealing the tooth with dental material
- Placing a temporary dental filling or dental crown to protect the tooth from further damage and restore strength and function
Root Canal Recovery and Aftercare
We will give you detailed instructions for relieving pain and discomfort during recovery. You will also need to make a follow-up appointment for an exam and placement of a permanent filling or dental crown. Most people only experience mild discomfort, like swelling and tenderness, for the first 24-48 hours. To accelerate recovery and protect your health, we recommend:
- Take all medication and antibiotics as prescribed.
- Use over-the-counter pain relief as needed.
- Treat pain and swelling with hot or cold compresses or a bag of frozen peas.
- Stick to a soft food diet and avoid anything chewy, sticky, or crunchy.
- Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary, acidic, or caffeinated drinks.
- Do not drink alcohol.
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products.
- Do not use a straw or poke at the treated tooth.
- Sleep with your head elevated.
- Avoid strenuous exercise.
- Use warm salt water rinses or an antibacterial mouth rinse.
- Practice proper daily oral hygiene, but be gentle with the treated tooth.
- Visit us for follow-up care and dental appointments as recommended.
Why Choose Hi-Tech Family Dentistry
Hi-Tech Family Dentistry is a local dental clinic with a dedicated, compassionate, and experienced staff. Our dental professionals strive to make every patient’s appointment comfortable and stress-free so that our community can get the care they need to improve their oral and overall health. We are known for our advanced treatments and technology, precision in diagnostic and preventive services, kid-friendly treatment, focus on patient comfort and alleviating dental fear and anxiety, and commitment to patient education. In addition to emergency dentistry, we also offer general and preventive dental care, family dentistry, and cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
Schedule a Consultation With a Root Canal Specialist
When a tooth is badly damaged or decayed, a root canal can help repair and save your natural teeth. A damaged tooth root, if left untreated, can result in swelling (mouth, face, neck, head), tooth bone loss, or drainage issues that can leak into your skin and affect other areas of your face. During a root canal, the damaged tooth interior (the pulp) is removed to prevent further infection or decay. The remaining hole is then cleaned, filled, and sealed off to keep bacteria out. Don’t delay in seeking treatment for a severe tooth problem. Call us now or contact us online to schedule an appointment with our root canal specialist in Southfield, MI.
FAQs About Root Canal Treatment
We do everything we can to ensure you do not experience any pain during treatment. Treatment actually alleviates pain, as it addresses and treats the underlying reason for your toothache.
Most people recover within one or two days and feel back to their normal selves within a week.
Your treatment depends on a wide range of factors that we will assess during your exam and consultation. In minor cases, dental cavity treatment and a filling may be sufficient. For severe cases, we may recommend tooth extraction.
After a root canal, you will come back in for a permanent dental crown. We will give you tips on caring for your oral health and schedule a follow-up exam.