Save Your Smile with Gentle Root Canal Therapy

Do you have questions about root canal treatment? At Smile Design Dentistry, we specialize in preserving your smile through comfortable, modern root canal therapy. With 50+ locations across Central Florida, our expert endodontists combine advanced technology with compassionate care to relieve pain, eliminate infection, and restore your oral health-all while saving your natural tooth.

Schedule an Appointment

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal therapy is a restorative procedure that saves teeth with a deep cavity, infected pulp, or damaged pulp (“pulp” is the soft inner tissue containing nerves and blood vessels). When decay, cracks, or trauma compromise the root of the tooth, our specialists gently remove the affected pulp, clean the root canals, and seal the tooth to prevent reinfection.

Tooth Anatomy

Each tooth has three main parts:

• Crown: The visible white portion above the gums
• Root: Anchors the tooth into your jawbone
• Pulp Chamber: Houses nerves and blood vessels that nourish the tooth

Is It Painful to Have a Root Canal?

These days, root canal therapy is a gentle and manageable process for nearly every patient, thanks to major advancements in local anesthesia and sedation dentistry. We numb the area around your tooth, so you won’t feel pain during the treatment, and if you’re especially anxious about dental visits, a range of sedation options are available to help you relax.

Is It Better to Get a Root Canal or Pull the Tooth?

It’s usually better to save a natural tooth with deep decay through root canal therapy whenever possible. Root canals relieve pain, preserve your natural bite, and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting. Pulling the affected tooth may seem faster, but can lead to bone loss and require more complex, costly replacements like implants or bridges. Saving your tooth helps maintain your overall oral health and function for years to come.

How Do I Know If I Need a Root Canal?

You may need root canal therapy if you’re experiencing certain symptoms or if your dentist notices signs of infection or damage. Here are some common reasons we might recommend a root canal:

• Persistent Toothache: Pain ranging from moderate to severe, especially if it worsens when chewing or exposed to hot or cold temperatures. It could indicate a bacterial infection.
• Gum Abscess: Small, pus-filled bump on your gums near a tooth could be a gum abscess —a clear sign that the area is infected.
• Tooth Discoloration: A single tooth that becomes dark gray or discolored may be suffering from internal infection or nerve damage.
• X-ray Findings: Sometimes, you may not feel any pain or notice changes, but your dentist may spot a dark area near a tooth’s root on an X-ray, indicating an infection that hasn’t yet caused symptoms but still requires treatment.
• Dental Trauma: An injury to the mouth or teeth may damage a tooth root, even if your teeth weren’t knocked out and you aren’t experiencing tooth sensitivity.

If you notice any of these symptoms, or if your general dentist brings them to your attention during an exam, it’s important to seek care as soon as possible. Early treatment with a root canal can relieve pain, stop the infection from spreading, and help you keep your natural tooth for years to come.

What Happens During a Root Canal Procedure?

When you’re treated for a root canal at Smile Design Dentistry, your comfort is our top priority. Here are the steps of a common root canal procedure:

1. Comfort First: We thoroughly numb the affected area with local anesthesia, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure.
2. Precision Cleaning: Once you’re comfortable, our dentist carefully removes the infected or damaged pulp from inside your tooth and cleans out the root canals, using advanced 3D imaging for precision.
3. Seal + Protect: After the canals are disinfected, they’re filled with a safe, biocompatible material, called gutta-percha, to seal and protect your tooth. We then place a temporary crown to restore your tooth’s shape and function.

Cleaning and Preparing Your Tooth for a Crown

Following root canal therapy, your dentist will prepare your tooth for a crown by carefully removing any compromised or weakened tooth material and shaping its remaining structure. This ensures a stable foundation for the crown. Your dentist will then take impressions of your prepared tooth and surrounding teeth. These impressions serve as a precise mold for the dental laboratory to custom-craft your permanent crown. In the interim, a temporary crown is often placed to protect the prepared tooth and maintain your bite and aesthetics until your final restoration is ready.

Restoring Your Damaged Tooth

After your root canal, you’ll return for an important follow-up visit to have a custom dental crown placed over your tooth. This permanent crown restores your tooth’s strength, protects it from future damage, and allows you to chew and smile with confidence. The crown placement is a crucial step to ensure your tooth functions just like a natural, healthy tooth. You may experience mild sensitivity that resolves within a few days after this last step in restoring your tooth. Over-the-counter pain medications are effective in relieving this discomfort in your tooth or soft tissue. Learn more about dental crowns and the crown procedure.

Learn more about dental crowns and the crown procedure.

How Long Do Root Canals Last?

With proper care and a well-fitted crown, a root canal can ensure your tooth lasts decades—often a lifetime. Good oral hygiene, regular dental checkups, and avoiding biting on hard objects will ensure the long-term success of your root canal treatment.