Preserves Function
Keeping your natural tooth maintains normal biting and chewing and helps preserve jawbone structure.
Tooth Preservation & Comfort
Endodontic Care & Root Canals in Florence, AL
When the soft tissue inside a tooth becomes inflamed or infected, endodontic treatment removes the damaged tissue, disinfects the root canals, and seals the tooth — relieving pain and saving your natural tooth.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is endodontic treatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth. The canals are then cleaned, shaped, disinfected, and sealed to prevent further infection. The tooth is usually restored with a crown to protect it and restore full function.
Despite its reputation, root canal treatment relieves pain rather than causing it. With modern local anesthetic, the procedure is generally no more uncomfortable than a routine filling. Some tenderness for a few days afterward is normal and usually managed with over-the-counter comfort measures.
Why Save the Tooth?
Natural Appearance
A restored natural tooth with a custom crown looks and feels more like your own tooth than a replacement.
Protects Alignment
Saving a tooth prevents neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap, which can affect your bite and alignment.
When to Seek Care
Common signs that may indicate the need for endodontic evaluation include:
- Severe or lingering tooth pain, especially with hot or cold
- Tenderness or swelling in the gums near a tooth
- Discoloration of a tooth
- Pain when chewing or applying pressure
These symptoms can have several causes; an exam determines the right treatment.
What to Expect
- Diagnosis with exam and imaging to confirm the cause of pain.
- Numbing for comfort, then careful cleaning and sealing of the canals.
- A temporary or permanent restoration, often a crown, to protect the tooth.
- Follow-up to confirm healing and long-term health of the tooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a root canal?
A root canal is endodontic treatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth, cleans and shapes the root canals, and seals them. The tooth is then restored, usually with a crown, to protect it.
Is a root canal painful?
Root canal treatment relieves the pain caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern local anesthetic, the procedure is generally no more uncomfortable than a routine filling. Some tenderness afterward is normal and usually fades within a few days.
Can the tooth be saved instead of extracted?
In many cases, root canal treatment allows you to keep a natural tooth that would otherwise need to be removed. Keeping the natural tooth helps preserve bite function and jaw structure. Your dentist will confirm whether the tooth is restorable.
Next Step
In pain or told you may need a root canal?
Contact Coker Dentistry in Florence, AL. We'll diagnose the cause and explain your options for saving your tooth — comfortably.