Eliminate Pain and Preserve Your Natural Tooth with Root Canal Treatment

At Hindman Family Dentistry in Sioux City, IA, Dr. Joshua Hindman and his team can save infected or badly damaged teeth with root canal treatment (endodontics). While many people shudder at the mention of a root canal, this procedure eliminates dental pain and saves your tooth from extraction. 

Signs that you may need a root canal

Visiting our dental office is the best way to establish whether you need a root canal. An initial exam with digital x-rays will confirm whether a root canal is the best treatment for your tooth.

While only a dentist can tell whether you need a root canal, there are several warning signs you can watch out for. These include:

  • Persistent toothache
  • Sensitivity to cold and hot foods
  • Swollen gums or jaws
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Tooth pain when chewing
  • A pimple-like bump on your gums

We believe in preserving your natural teeth whenever possible, and a root canal allows us to do precisely that. So, when you experience the above signs, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hindman. The sooner we treat your tooth, the more the chances of a better outcome. 

What to expect during root canal treatment

Untreated dental decay or damage allows harmful bacteria to infiltrate your pulp chamber, which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Harmful bacteria inflame your pulp chamber, causing pressure buildup in your tooth. An infected tooth won’t resolve itself — it needs treatment; otherwise, it will deteriorate and die off. 

We aim to prevent root canals, but when a root canal is necessary, your procedure involves the steps below.

  • Numbing your tooth to minimize discomfort during treatment.
  • Creating an access hole at the top of your tooth.
  • Removing your tooth’s pulp chamber, including the nerves and blood vessels. Don’t worry. Your tooth is already grown, so it can survive without nutrition from the blood vessels. 
  • We clean and sterilize your tooth’s interior to eliminate harmful bacteria.
  • Sealing your root canal with gutta-percha.
  • We close the access hole with a dental filling but later place a dental crown to stabilize your treated tooth.

Root canals get an undeserved bad reputation. In reality, root canal treatment relieves tooth pain and prevents infection from spreading to nearby structures. Even better, a root canal saves your tooth from extraction, saving you the consequences of tooth loss or costly tooth replacements. 

Preserve your oral health with root canal services in Sioux City, Iowa

Are you tired of recurring tooth pain? Let us help. With a root canal, we can stop your tooth infection from advancing and preserve your natural tooth. Extractions aren’t the only solutions for infected teeth! Learn about your tooth-saving options at Hindman Family Dentistry by dialing (712) 274-2228.