Root Canal Therapy - Baton Rouge, LA

Treating the Root of the Matter Saves Teeth

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Pain-Free Treatment to Alleviate Tooth Pain

About 15 million teeth are saved every year with root canal treatment. A root canal is necessary when the pulp of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. If pulp infection is left untreated, this can cause severe pain and/or lead to an abscess. While the perception that root canals are painful began decades ago, advances in dental technology have resulted in root canals that are no more uncomfortable than having a cavity filled. At Pearl Dental Group, we strive to change what patients think about root canal treatment by using technologies that enable a painless approach while also alleviating dental anxiety. During a root canal in our Baton Rouge, LA office, one of our highly skilled dentists removes the infected pulp and nerve in your tooth root, cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space.

root canal graphic

Why do most people need a root canal?

When a tooth becomes infected, that infection can spread into the center of the tooth. This area is called the dental pulp. Inside of the dental pulp is the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. All of the sensitive areas of the tooth are contained here. As such, when the area becomes infected it can be incredibly painful, requiring immediate treatment. We can perform a root canal quickly on people living in and around the Baton Rouge area.

root canal patient smiling

How does the treatment work?

A root canal endodontic procedure works by creating a small hole in the tooth so that all of the infected areas can be removed. The dental pulp is removed, and oftentimes so are the roots. You only need your tooth roots to feel sensations like hot and cold and for the tooth to grow in. Once it has fully matured, removing the roots will not directly harm the tooth. It can, however, prevent the further spread of infection so when it is necessary to remove the roots; we promptly do so. Once done, we will clean the area to ensure that the infection is gone. We will typically prescribe antibiotics, as well. This ensures that any lingering infection is eliminated.

In order to complete the root canal, we will seal up the hole and area where the dental pulp used to be. This is typically done with something called gutta-percha. This is a rubber-like substance that can help to stabilize the tooth now that a portion is missing. At Pearl Dental Group At Jones Creek, we will then use a filling or crown in order to further strengthen and protect the damaged tooth. Both fillings and crowns can now be created in a tooth-color. This means that regardless of where your infected tooth is located, a crown can be used, and it will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding teeth. Patients throughout the Baton Rouge area appreciate how natural their tooth looks once the procedure is complete.

root canal graphic

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Root Canal Treatment

Why should I have a root canal endodontics treatment?

If you live in Baton Rouge, LA you should schedule an appointment with us to discuss the health of your teeth, any problems that you may be having and what should be done to heal and protect the tooth. If it appears that a root canal is the best option, we will make this recommendation. If not, we will present a treatment solution that will solve your health issue. Overall, a root canal endodontics treatment is extremely effective for saving damaged teeth by removing any infection that may be there. This single treatment makes it possible for millions of teeth to be saved on an annual basis and once it is completed; eating and drinking becomes easy again.

tooth graphic

The Out-of-Sight, Essential Tooth Root

A tooth root comprises the lower two-thirds of your tooth and serves to anchor it in position and keep your jawbone healthy. The root canal space is located below the pulp chamber in what is called the radicular portion of the tooth. The end tip of the tooth root is called the apex. Root canals can be round, oval, long oval, flattened or irregular. In most people, incisors, canines and premolars have one root, while molars have two or three, each of which can get infected. Due to the complex branching of nerves, most teeth have an intricate internal anatomy. Oral surgeons are the right choice to handle your root canal treatment because they have specialized advanced training.

root canal patient in pain

Signs You Need a Root Canal

root canal model for education

Underlying Reasons Why You Need a Root Canal

Causes of inflammation or infection in dental pulp include deep decay due to untreated cavities, repeated dental restorations or cracked/chipped teeth. Tooth trauma can result in pulp damage without visible chips or cracks to the enamel. Trauma can also cause nerves and blood vessels to deaden when blood fails to properly flow to these areas. Bacteria from an infection can be carried by the blood vessels deep inside your tooth root. The clinical term for inflammation of the dental pulp is pulpitis. While the principal symptom is pain, diagnosis is based on clinical findings, as well as digital X-rays and pulp vitality tests. Treatment involves removing decay, restoring the damaged tooth, root canal therapy or tooth extraction.

Dedicated to Painless Root Canals

When pulp inside your tooth root becomes infected, the pulp and bacteria must be removed to save your tooth, oral health and overall health. During a root canal in Baton Rouge, LA, our oral surgeon first numb the treatment site with a local anesthetic. If you suffer from dental anxiety or need additional sedation, we offer diverse sedation options. Either way, you won’t feel any pain, although you may experience slight pressure as we complete the procedure. We drill a small hole in your tooth crown to gain access to the pulp chamber and carefully clean out all the bacteria and infected pulp and tissues. Then we fill and seal the end with a rubberlike material called gutta-percha. Afterward, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling to protect it and restore normal function. We accept many insurance plans and offer third-party financing to ensure your treatment is both painless and affordable.

Advanced Technology Ensures Optimal Outcomes

At Pearl Dental Group, we believe in using innovative endodontics in Baton Rouge, LA to benefit our patients, such as micro-endoscopy and the GentleWave® Procedure. In fact, we’re one of only two practices in NYC to use groundbreaking GentleWave technology, which requires specific training and certification. Special operating microscopes enable our oral surgeon to see tiny details inside a tooth that guide more accurate treatment. The GentleWave Procedure is a minimally invasive state-of-the-art protocol to access the infected root canal system. 

The protocol enables the preservation of more of the natural tooth, thereby helping the tooth structure remain strong. Using GentleWave, our oral surgeon can typically clean and fill the tooth in just one visit, compared to the several appointments required with standard root canal therapy. Thorough debridement of the tooth is essential when performing root canal treatment to prevent the need for root canal retreatment or an apicoectomy. In our experience, GentleWave provides the most predictable method for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting complex internal anatomies.

Gentlewave machine

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

When our oral surgeon perform a root canal in Baton Rouge, LA, this will enable you to live a comfortable and functional life free of tooth pain. The benefits of root canal treatment include:

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Dr. André Bruni

Is Your Dentist Stuck In The Past Technological Age?

How to Prevent Root Canals

The best way to prevent a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene, avoid hard food that can crack teeth, and protect your teeth when playing sports. Follow these additional precautions:

dental patient brushing teeth
root canal patient suffering

Consequences of Untreated Pulp Inflammation

Infected tooth pulp will not heal on its own, and will only get worse. Although the pain may disappear and you may think the infection has healed, this is actually a signal that the nerves inside your tooth have died. Although the pain subsided, the infection is still present inside your tooth, and the only treatment option other than a root canal is tooth extraction. If you forgo either treatment, a bacterial infection can spread to your jaw, brain, blood, and possibly the rest of your body. The consequences can be serious, and even fatal!

There’s no need to fear pain-free root canal treatment in Baton Rouge, LA!

Schedule a painless appointment and save your smile.

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