Despite common misconceptions, modern root canal therapy does not cause pain—it relieves it. At BB Dental Care, Dr. Bryanna Hubbard provides gentle, precise endodontic treatment to eliminate deep tooth infections, alleviate severe pain, and save your natural tooth from extraction.
Inside every tooth is a hollow chamber containing nerves, blood vessels, and living tissue known as dental pulp. When deep decay, repeated dental procedures, or a cracked tooth allows bacteria to penetrate the pulp chamber, the tissue becomes inflamed and infected. Root canal therapy gently cleans and seals this inner canal system to restore your comfort and health.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
- Persistent, Throbbing Pain: Severe toothache that lingers, worsens when lying down, or radiates to your jaw.
- Prolonged Temperature Sensitivity: Sharp pain from hot coffee or cold drinks that lingers long after contact.
- Pain When Chewing: Discomfort or tenderness when applying biting pressure.
- Swollen Gums or Dental Abscess: A small pimple-like bump (fistula) on the gum near the painful tooth.
- Tooth Discoloration: Darkening or graying of an injured or dying tooth.
The Root Canal Procedure: Comfortable & Precise
- Complete Numbing & Comfort: We ensure the tooth and surrounding area are completely anesthetized so you feel zero pain. Relax with our noise-canceling headphones and cozy amenities.
- Removing the Infection: Dr. Hubbard creates a tiny opening in the crown of the tooth to access and gently remove the inflamed nerve tissue and bacteria using precision rotary instruments.
- Disinfection & Biocompatible Sealing: The root canals are thoroughly irrigated with antibacterial solution and filled with a biocompatible rubber-like material called gutta-percha.
- Final Restoration: Because a tooth without a nerve becomes brittle over time, we typically place a custom porcelain crown to restore full strength and prevent fractures.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Thanks to modern local anesthetics and advanced rotary instruments, getting a root canal feels very similar to having a routine filling placed. The procedure immediately relieves the intense pain caused by the infected nerve.
Saving your natural tooth is always the best choice whenever possible. Natural teeth maintain proper jawbone stimulation, prevent neighboring teeth from shifting, and avoid the higher costs of dental implants or bridges.
Most patients return to work and normal daily activities the following day. Mild tenderness in the surrounding gum tissue for 2 to 3 days is normal and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
For back molars and premolars that endure heavy chewing forces, a custom crown is almost always recommended to prevent the tooth from cracking. Front teeth may sometimes only need a bonded composite filling.