Sink your teeth into root canal treatment, successfully performed with specialist care in Conyers, GA

Smiling middle aged woman

Endodontics comes from the Greek words for “inside” (“endo”) and “tooth” (“odont”). So, this specialty field of dentistry quite literally refers to treating the inside of a tooth. Root canals are just one part of this innermost tooth structure. Likewise, nonsurgical root canal therapy isn’t the only type of treatment that endodontists like Drs Rolin Desir and Alison St. Paul are adept at performing. That being said, nonsurgical therapy to resolve damage to root canals in Conyers, GA, and beyond is most often associated with endodontics practices like Conyers Endodontic Center.

As with other disciplines, the more conservative option is generally recommended first. So, nonsurgical root canal treatment is often at the front lines of resolving diseased or injured dental pulp. Root canals are part of the pulp at the center of the tooth, below the protective enamel and softer underlying dentin that makes up the crown, or the part of the tooth that you see above the gumline. The pulp also contains blood vessels and nerves. The pulp chamber resides in the crown, and as the tooth narrows underneath the gums, the chamber makes way for canals that branch downward inside of the roots. These root canals that contain pulp tissue are surrounded by dentin, supportive ligaments, and bone.

The pulp is vital to tooth development; it provides nourishment during those critical growth stages. However, once the tooth is fully matured, it doesn’t need the pulp to be intact to retain its integrity and health. But the pulp can still present plenty of health problems, long after it has “outlived” its useful purpose. Notably, the pulp tissue may become damaged due to dental decay, gum disease, worn or faulty crowns that allow harmful bacteria to enter the inner tooth, large fillings, and repeated treatments that make the structure vulnerable to deep infection. Additionally, untreated cracks, chips, and other dental trauma can allow harmful bacteria to flourish and march from the outside of the tooth to its innermost structure, where they infect and inflame the pulp.

Patients are often referred to the Conyers Endodontic Center by their dentists. As specialists in root canal therapy, Drs Desir and St. Paul are frequently the “last chance” to save a severely damaged tooth. Root canal treatment is always preferred to extraction because gaps in your smile can lead to destructive bone loss. Also, natural teeth are still superior in form and function to even that “gold standard” tooth replacement: dental implant-supported crowns, bridges, and dentures. With specialists handling every step of the root canal treatment process, you can assure the process of removing infected or inflamed tissue, and sterilizing, reshaping, and sealing off affected root canals, is:

  • Principal
  • Renaissance
  • United Concordia (plans vary)
  • United Healthcare
  • Some Dental Discount Plans

In addition to our endodontists’ advanced, focused training beyond dental school, Conyers Endodontic Center is pleased to offer sophisticated technologies. For instance, should you need surgical treatment, our operating microscopes allow for magnification that is four to 25 times more enhanced than magnification with traditional microscopes. The ability to “see” the smallest details further positions your treatment for success as an accurate and precision aid in surgical planning.

Call (470) 486-6025 to schedule an appointment with Drs Desir or St. Paul at our specialty practice in Conyers, GA, or reach out to us via any one of the many methods listed on this website. 

FAQs

When the inner tooth chamber gets infected, the impacted pulp must be removed. Decay that has spread throughout the tooth, a crack or chip, or multiple procedures on a tooth can result in infection and inflammation in the middle of the tooth. If left untreated, it can cause intense pain, abscesses, and even tooth loss: Thus, root canal therapy is needed.

It’s no more painful or uncomfortable than a normal filling. The infection causes more pain than the treatment, and therapy helps relieve this pain. The local area will also be numbed during the procedure, so you won’t feel any pain while the work is done.

When the numbing wears off, you won’t feel the intense pain you felt before the treatment as the infected pulp and nerves have been removed. Some people might feel slight discomfort and tenderness in the area for a few days while the tissues heal. Eating soft foods and taking over-the-counter pain medication could help.

An infected tooth needs immediate treatment as it can lead to many other complications. Conyers Endodontic Center recommends root canal therapy over extraction, as we believe that nothing can beat natural teeth. A root canal allows you to keep your teeth, which might otherwise need extraction. It’s also cheaper than replacing extracted teeth with costly restorations.

Since the inner section of the tooth is removed during the procedure, it can weaken the overall tooth structure. But restorations like crowns and onlays can strengthen it. The correct treatment with your endodontist can ensure that you get the best result.