Experience Safe, Painless Root Canal Treatment at Your Local Dentist, Westmoreland Family Dentistry
A root canal is a common restorative procedure for damaged or infected teeth. The dentist removes the damaged tissues and restores your tooth with a crown to resolve pain and save your tooth. Unlike root canals of yesteryears, modern treatments are more comfortable and predictable than ever.
Westmoreland Family Dentistry is excited to offer gentle yet effective root canals to residents in Augusta, Evans, Hephzibah, Waynesboro, Grovetown, Georgia, and the surrounding locations. Book your appointment with Dr. William Westmoreland today and discover what root canal therapy can do for your smile.
How do I know I need a root canal?
Root canals are more common than you think, with more than 15 million procedures administered annually. However, your Augusta root canal dentist will only recommend the treatment when there aren’t other procedures to save your tooth from extraction.
So, how do you know you need a root canal? While your dentist will use dental X-rays and a thorough exam to make the final call, there are some telltale signs you shouldn’t ignore.
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Persistent tooth sensitivity after cold or hot drinks
- Relentless toothaches
- Increased tooth pain when pressure is applied
- Swollen gums or face
- Changes in color (an infected tooth becomes dark, yellow, or brown)
Sometimes, you may need a root canal without pain. Asymptomatic root canals occur when the nerve dies, meaning it no longer registers pain. While you may not experience pain, the infection still lingers and can cause damage without treatment.
What can I expect from root canal treatment?
Root canals have an unfair reputation. Just hearing the words can make people cringe—but the truth is, this tooth-saving treatment is nothing like the horror stories you may have read, watched, or heard. Modern root canals are gentle, efficient, and one of the most effective ways to relieve pain and preserve your natural smile.
Your treatment starts with a consultation to determine your tooth’s suitability for a root canal. If so, the dentist numbs your mouth with local anesthetics. This way, you won’t experience pain but mild pressure as we work on your tooth.
Next, the dentist flushes out the infected tissues, cleans the area, and uses gutta-percha to seal the tooth from future infections. Finally, we crown your tooth, restoring much-needed strength and aesthetics. That’s it! Your treated tooth looks natural and functions like other teeth.
What are the benefits of root canals?
Here are reasons you should consider a root canal.
- Pain relief: Patients experience significant pain relief after the root canal treatment.
- Stop infections: Root canals stop the infection at its source, eliminating the risk of infecting surrounding structures.
- Restore oral function: Return to enjoying foods and drinks again after a root canal. You no longer have to endure pain or sensitivity when consuming cold or hot foods and beverages.
- Save your tooth: Instead of extracting the tooth, a root canal cleans and seals the diseased tissue, allowing your tooth to stay functional and intact for years. This preserves your teeth and saves your wallet from costly tooth replacements.
Looking for a root canal dentist in Augusta, GA?
Westmoreland Family Dentistry offers comfortable and painless root canals, so you can be confident about your decision to choose us. To get started, call (706) 535-2300 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Westmoreland.
Root canal therapy is a very common procedure. It has a reputation of being undesirable and painful. But when done properly it is actually painless. Every tooth in your mouth is composed of a crown and a root. When a cavity or bacteria penetrates the tooth, the root and its nerves become irritated. As a result, the bacteria within the pulp cavity needs to be removed and cleaned in order to restore the tooth to its healthy state. Following the procedure, the tooth is fragile and consequently is restored with the natural crown for a lifetime of durability. Root canals have a success rate of 95% or greater. Most root canal are diagnosed by patients’ sensitivities to a specific tooth. Be sure to consult your dentist any symptoms or discomfort occur.
