Birmingham, AL Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatments have a reputation of being painful. However, with modern techniques, we believe we can keep you completely comfortable during your treatment. Here’s a look at what to expect and how we plan to keep you comfortable.

“The team at Alabaster Aesthetic Dentistry is fantastic. I had an unexpected root canal two weeks ago. Dr. Dudney and his staff had me in and out on a Monday morning so I was back to work in a very short time.” — W.A. Brown

When is Root Canal Treatment Needed?

Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp inside a tooth becomes infected. Though you can’t see the infection, a toothache will alert you that something is wrong. When you experience pain in your tooth, you’ll want to let us know right away so that any infection can be treated as soon as possible.

When it becomes infected, the pulp responds just as any tissue would — by swelling. However, since the pulp is constrained within the tooth, there isn’t room for it to swell. So rather than healing on its own, it soon chokes and dies. And whereas the body would normally carry off dead tissue, the dead pulp inside the tooth remains stuck there, creating a tooth abscess, or a continual cause of infection. This is why treatment is still needed even if a severe toothache has subsided on its own due to the death of its inner tissue.

What to Expect

To treat the infection, Dr. Luis Abrahante will remove all of the dead or infected tissue inside the tooth. Then, he will seal the entire tooth so that no living matter can enter it again. Once the root canal has been treated successfully, the pulp of that tooth can never again get infected.

This process will not be difficult for you. If the tissue has already died, you will not feel anything at all. In any case, we are committed to keeping you comfortable during the procedure. To numb the affected area, we give you novocain through painless injections. We can also offer nitrous oxide sedation to help you feel calm and to enhance the effects of the novocain. We prioritize creating a comforting atmosphere in our practice, which you’ll notice in everything from the demeanor of our staff to the music we play in our office.

Once the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed, Dr. Abrahante will recommend a crown or filling to restore your tooth. This will be taken care of at a subsequent appointment.

Be Seen Today

If you have a toothache, we want to take care of your dental emergency and help you out of your pain right away. We can see you today — just give us a call during office hours at (205) 663-6545 to schedule your appointment.