Root Canals in Gardendale, AL: Saving Teeth from Infection

Root canal treatment saves teeth from extraction and offers relief from the intense pain that can accompany chronic apical periodontitis. The procedure involves removing the infected dental pulp, sanitizing the inner chamber and sealing it.

Healthgrades enables patients to find top-rated Endodontics Practitioners near them. Physicians are profiled on their years of experience, education, board certifications, patient ratings and hospital affiliations.

What is a Root Canal?

A Root Canals Gardendale AL  (also known as endodontic treatment) is a dental procedure that can save a tooth with inflamed or infected tooth pulp. This can be due to a deep cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, faulty dental procedures, or a crack in the root. The tooth pulp is made of a spongy material that contains the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue. It is located inside the root canals of each tooth.

The dentist removes the dead and inflamed tissue from the tooth, cleans and enlarges the canals, and then fills them with a rubber-like material called gutta percha. Occasionally, medication is put in the canals to kill bacteria.

Afterwards, the dentist places a crown on top of the tooth to protect it. The treated tooth can last a lifetime with proper care, including brushing and flossing. Some patients may experience pain or sensitivity after the procedure, but over-the-counter pain medicines can help.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment clears the tissue from the inside of a damaged tooth's root canals. It's a serious dental procedure, but it saves the tooth from decay and prevents the need for replacement with a bridge or denture. A root canal is also a more comfortable treatment than living with a damaged or infected tooth.

A spongy material called pulp contains blood vessels and nerves inside the center of each tooth. It's protected by the outer tooth enamel, but harmful bacteria can reach the pulp. If left untreated, pulp inflammation and infection can cause severe toothache, swelling of the gums, or an abscess that requires root canal therapy to treat.

During a root canal treatment, the diseased pulp is removed from the pulp chamber and root canals, which are cleaned, enlarged, shaped, and filled with a rubbery substance called gutta-percha. The tooth is then restored with a realistic-looking artificial crown to function normally and protect it from future damage.

Root Canal Treatment Options

Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist to treat a Root Canals Gardendale AL infection or an endodontic surgery. Endodontists are experts in treating diseases and conditions of the dental pulp, tooth root and soft tissue inside teeth.

When choosing a Endodontics Practitioner, it’s important to select one who has a high patient rating. Healthgrades provides you with the tools you need to make an informed decision, including a detailed overview of each specialist’s experience, education, board certification and more. You can even narrow your search by location or language.

For patients undergoing ongoing treatment, it’s helpful to find a Endodontics Practitioner with hospital affiliations that provide consistent care between appointments. Healthgrades allows you to easily filter your search by facility ratings and even select specialists who offer LGBTQ+ affirming care. Caregivers of loved ones with serious medical conditions can also benefit from finding a specialist who can communicate effectively in their preferred language. To identify these physicians, simply click “All Filters” on your search results page and then select “Language.” Healthgrades offers over 100 languages to choose from.