Save Your Tooth with Safe and Painless Root Canal Treatment

The prospect of a root canal probably won’t get anyone excited. However, this restorative procedure is welcome news for patients with infected or damaged teeth. Root canal treatment removes the source of infection and restores your tooth for durable aesthetics and functionality. 

Do you have a painful tooth? Dr. Kim Arnold Family Dentistry is excited to offer advanced root canals to patients in or near Russell or Ashland, Kentucky. Visit Dr. Kimberly Arnold and save your infected tooth with painless root canals.

How do I know I need a root canal?

Your teeth are not solid—they comprise several layers, including enamel, dentine, and pulp. The enamel is the protective outer layer, while the pulp contains living tissues, including nerves and blood vessels. When harmful bacteria infiltrate the pulp chamber through cracks, decay, or faulty dental work on the enamel, a root canal is needed.

While only a dentist can determine the need for a root canal, watch out for these signs. 

  • Lingering tooth sensitivity after consuming cold and hot substances
  • Excruciating toothaches 
  • Swollen gums
  • An infected tooth becomes darker over time
  • A recurrent pimple-like swelling

Our priority is saving your natural teeth. We offer advanced root canals to ensure extraction isn’t the only option for infected or damaged teeth. Root canals save your natural teeth and prevent the need for costly tooth replacements.

What does the procedure involve?

The dentist will determine whether your tooth is viable for a root canal by examining it with dental X-rays. If so, we’ll numb your gums with local anesthesia to ensure a comfortable dental experience. Unlike common misconceptions, the procedure is virtually painless. Many patients tell us it’s no more painful than getting a dental filling.

Once you are comfortable, the dentist makes a small access hole in your tooth and uses it to flush out the infected pulp tissues. Then, the dentist cleans and sanitizes the pulp chamber to remove all the harmful bacteria. After a thorough cleaning, the dentist fills the empty canals with gutta-percha to stabilize the tooth and seal out future bacterial infiltrations.

The final step is to restore your tooth. A filling is sometimes sufficient, but a dental crown is preferable if the tooth is significantly weakened. Your treated tooth looks natural and lasts several years with good maintenance.

What should I expect after a root canal?

Recovery after a root canal is typically quick, with most people resuming normal activities within a day or two. Our dental team will give post-op instructions to manage pain and optimize recovery. Our aftercare tips cover nutrition, pain management, and oral hygiene. We’ll also schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing progress.

Patients rarely experience complications after a root canal. However, call your dentist if pain, swelling, and sensitivity persist for a few days.

Do you need a root canal?

Living with an infected tooth can affect your quality of life. Give your tooth a second chance with root canal therapy near Russell, KY.

Doing so will help you: 

  • Relieve pain
  • Save your natural tooth from extraction
  • Protect your oral and overall health from further complications

Ready to get started with root canal therapy? Welcome to Dr. Kim Arnold Family Dentistry for safe and painless root canals. Call (606) 836-6022 and book your visit today!