Root Canal Therapy

Dentist In Kalamazoo, MI

You may need a root canal if a cavity is deep enough to penetrate the pulp inside your tooth. Another reason to need a root canal is when a tooth is damaged from a traumatic injury.

Dental pulp is the innermost layer of your tooth that’s made of living tissue. Sometimes this pulp needs to be removed by our Kalamazoo dentist if it’s infected.

Let’s take a look at the warning signs to watch for that indicate you need a root canal procedure and what to expect from our dental office.

Signs You Need a Root Canal

Don’t ignore tooth pain! This could be your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.

The sooner you call our office, the sooner you can get the treatment you need. Root canal therapy is often a last resort option to save an infected tooth from extraction.

Call our Kalamazoo dentist if you experience:

  • Severe toothache
  • Tooth darkening
  • Pimple on gums
  • Swollen, tender gums

What to Expect

Dr. Busch-Abbate will take X-rays to see the shape of your root canals and determine whether the infection has spread to your jawbone. If a tooth abscess is left untreated, it can rupture and spread the infection to your jaw, head, and neck. This is why it’s important to see our Kalamazoo dentist as soon as possible if you suspect something is wrong.

First, Dr. Busch-Abbate will numb your tooth so you don’t feel any pain or discomfort during the root canal. She’ll also place a rubber dam around your tooth to isolate it from the rest of your mouth and keep it dry. Once that’s done, she’ll drill a hole through the top of your tooth so she can remove the infected dental pulp.

Throughout the root canal, our dentist will flush the inside of your tooth with water or sodium hypochlorite. Once the inside of your tooth is clean, our dentist will seal the root canals with a material called gutta-percha. This stops bacteria from reinfecting your root canals. Finally, she’ll restore the look and function of your tooth, often with a crown.

Learn More

Dr. Stephanie Busch-Abbate is a Kalamazoo, MI, root canal dentist. She is happy to answer your questions about root canal treatment. To request an appointment, call Gentle Dentistry at (269) 381-3890.

Emergency Dental Care

Our dental office treats many types of traumatic dental injuries, such as teeth that have been chipped, moved, or knocked out. Please contact our Kalamazoo, MI office for help with a dental emergency.

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