Root Canal Therapy | Family Dentist in Des Moines, IA

Get the Relief You Need at Hickman Family Dental

Are you struggling with severe tooth pain? When a tooth becomes infected, immediate action needs to be taken in the form of a root canal treatment. Root canal therapy preserves your tooth and oral health.

At Hickman Family Dental, our dentist in Urbandale, IA offers safe and gentle root canal therapy. We serve patients from Des Moines and the surrounding Iowa areas with expert compassionate care.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is a restorative dental procedure used to remove bacteria from an infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth, and save the natural tooth from extraction.

Your teeth consist of three layers:

Enamel– The hard outermost layer of the tooths

Dentin– The layer of tissue beneath the enamel that makes up the majority of the tooth’s structure

Dental pulp– The innermost layer composed of soft tissues housed inside hollow spaces called root canals.

How Do Teeth Become Infected?

Infection occurs when cracks or holes in your teeth allow bacteria to penetrate the enamel and work their way into the dental pulp. If the infection is allowed to remain untreated for too long, it can render the tooth untreatable and spread to other parts of your body.

Signs of Oral Infection

Signs you may benefit from a root canal include:

Sensitivity to hot and cold that wasn’t previously an issue
Damage to the soft tissue and bone surrounding the tooth
Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
Severe tooth pain
Loosening of the tooth
Swollen gums or abscesses on the gums
Difficulty chewing

If you suspect you need a root canal treatment, Drs. Erickson and Krehbiel are here for you. Contact our office right away at (515) 276-4981 to schedule a consultation.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

The main benefit of root canal therapy is preserving your natural tooth and saving you the trouble of getting a tooth extraction and a tooth replacement. Other root canal therapy benefits include:

Prevents infection of neighboring teeth
Prevents further infection of the teeth, gums, and mouth
Prevents jawbone degeneration
Boosts your oral and overall health
Boosts the aesthetics of your teeth
Simple, virtually painless procedure

The Root Canal Procedure

a consultation with one of our trusted dentists. They’ll perform a thorough examination to determine the severity of your infection. This will help us decide whether root canal therapy is right for you. Once we have determined that a root canal is the best course of action, we’ll schedule your root canal therapy appointment right away.

At your next visit, we’ll meticulously clean your teeth before beginning the procedure. Our dentist will also administer local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Next, one of our dentists will make a small hole in your tooth to access the root canals.

We’ll carefully remove the infected pulp, decayed nerve tissues, and other debris. The inner tooth cavity is then cleaned and sealed off to prevent any further infection. The empty pulp chamber and root canals will be filled with a rubber-based material known as gutta-percha. Finally, your dentist will place either a dental filling or crown to protect and restore your tooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your dentist will ensure your root canal is as painless as possible. They’ll numb the infected area with a local anesthetic so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. You can expect some soreness in the days that follow, but this is usually treated with over-the-counter pain medication.

It’s best to make your root canal appointment as soon as possible. An untreated infection is a danger to more than just your teeth. Infected tissue can spread to other parts of your body including your blood, heart, and brain. It can also damage your other teeth and the rest of your mouth, leading to more expensive dental work down the road.

Most dental insurance plans will cover at least a portion of root canal therapy, as it is considered a restorative procedure. If you have any questions, please discuss your options with your dental team before your procedure.

When You Need a Root Canal in Urbandale, IA

Tooth pain and infections can be scary, but root canal therapy is a highly effective and safe solution. Our restorative dentists have the skills and experience to make it nearly painless. If you’re suffering from tooth pain in Des Moines, Urbandale, or the surrounding areas, call us right away at (515) 276-4981 or contact us through our convenient online form. We’d love to help you get the relief you need.

Root Canal Therapy in Des Moines, IA