root canal

Root Canal Treatment

Have you noticed severe pain in your tooth? Or a pimple on your gum? Maybe you have lingering sensitivity to hot or cold?

These may be signs of a tooth infection. Without root canal therapy, you could lose the tooth and the infection may spread.

Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, uses advanced techniques to relieve the pain caused by a root canal infection and restore your smile.  

Do I Need a Root Canal?

Root canal therapy is needed when the soft tissue inside a tooth, also known as the pulp, becomes inflamed or infected. While pain is a common symptom, it is not always present when you need a root canal. Other signs that you need this restorative procedure include:

  • Severe toothache 
  • Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
  • Pain when chewing
  • Pimple on your gums
  • Chipped or cracked tooth
  • Deep cavity 
  • Darkening or swelling of the gums

Gentle Root Canal Treatment: Prevent Tooth Loss & Restore Your Smile

It's a common misconception that root canal treatment is painful. Instead, root canals actually relieve pain caused by infection. By using advanced technology, the dentists at Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, are able to make your treatment as comfortable as possible.

If trauma or decay is causing you pain, the dentists at our Flowood, MS, practice can remove the damaged tissue to avoid extraction while preserving your smile and restoring your ability to chew food.  

Take Advantage of Comfortable Treatment

Our dentists are careful to take extra steps to make root canal therapy as comfortable as possible. They use advanced technology to carefully plan the procedure. For anxious patients, we offer sedation dentistry. Our techniques and technology make root canals no more uncomfortable than a filling. 

Avoid an Extraction

When an infection is removed early enough, a tooth can be saved. However, if the infection is not treated promptly, you may need an extraction. At that point, the dentist typically advises placement of a dental bridge or implant, both of which cost more than a root canal. 

Preserve Your Health

A root canal infection can affect surrounding teeth and gum tissue and may lead to deterioration of the jawbone. In some cases, it can be life-threatening. If you need a root canal, it's important to have the infection removed.

Enjoy the Benefits of Advanced Technology

Our dentists use lasers, microscopes, and the Root ZX Apex Locator to navigate the intricate root canals, allowing for the utmost precision during your treatment. Our cutting-edge technologies and techniques, including sedation dentistry, attract patients from throughout the greater Jackson, MS, area.

How an Infection Damages a Tooth's Pulp

Progress of a cavity

"Highly qualified and very friendly"

I normally do not like the dentist at all but coming here it felt like being with family. I loved how down to earth they were and so eager to tell me what everything meant. They really made me feel like I had been coming to them forever and it made my experience very amazing Chauniq

Looking for Advanced Root Canal Treatment?

Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, has nearly 100 years of combined experience. Our dentists and exceptional team of hygienists and assistants offer patients the latest advancements in dental care.

Our state-of-the-art technology and techniques make treatment of infected root canals as safe and gentle as possible. We offer: 

Do you have questions? Contact the practice or call us at:

(601) 936-2526

Drs. Danny O'Keefe and Jan O'Keefe Belote
Drs. Danny O'Keefe and Jan O'Keefe Belote practice minimally invasive techniques to preserve as much healthy dental tissue as possible and preserve your natural smile.

Root Canals Can Save Teeth

The philosophy of the dentists at Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, is to preserve as much of your healthy dental tissue as possible. When an infection is discovered in the pulp, a root canal is typically the most conservative approach to relieving your pain and avoiding an extraction.

In contrast, extracting and then replacing the tooth with a bridge or a dental implant requires multiple treatments that typically cost more than a simple root canal. These additional procedures could possibly impact neighboring teeth, as well.  

Removing Infection to Relieve Pain

The infected tissue is the source of your pain. Cleaning out the inside of the tooth and root canals can provide effective relief. 

Can Your Tooth Can Be Saved?

Advances in technology and root canal dentistry are making it possible to save teeth that just a few years ago would have been lost. Unfortunately, particularly if the infection is not dealt with promptly, not all teeth can be saved. Some of the factors your dentist will consider:  

Healthy Outer Structure

For a root canal to be successful, there must be enough remaining tooth after the procedure to support a crown. However, if there is a large cavity or structural damage, such as a crack that extends below the gums, then an extraction may be your only choice. You would then be advised to get a dental implant or bridge to restore your bite.

Wisdom Teeth

If the infection is in a wisdom tooth, the dentist will likely recommend extracting it. Fortunately, most people will not need to replace an extracted wisdom tooth with a bridge or implant. In fact, due to their hard-to-brush location and problems they cause with surrounding teeth, dentists often recommend removing them even then they are healthy.

What Can I Expect During a Root Canal?

Our dentists use advanced technology to make the procedure as comfortable and effective as possible, from start to finish.    

Analysis

Using a Root ZX Apex Locator, your dentist will first locate the root canals so he can carefully plan the procedure.

Preparation

Our dentists use a sophisticated computer-assisted system to deliver local anesthetic to numb the area. Patients may also request sedation dentistry.

Gaining Access

An access point is created to reach the infected pulp inside. Using microscopes and lasers for the utmost precision, the infected pulp is removed.

Cleaning the Interior

The inside is disinfected and, if needed, posts will be inserted into the root canals for reinforcement.

Filling the Canals

The root canals are then filled with a rubber-like substance called gutta-percha and sealed.

Restoration

A crown is typically placed on root-canaled teeth. If more than one visit is needed, a temporary crown will be placed used until a permanent one can be crafted.

Same-Day Crowns after a Root Canal

Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, uses in-office CEREC technology that allows our dentists to create and place porcelain crowns during the same visit.

To do this, the dentist will shape the tooth, take a digital impression, create the crown, and then place it during your visit. The design and fabrication of the crown can usually be completed in under an hour.

You walk out of the practice with a fully restored smile.

Root Canal Treatment Recovery

You should avoid eating until after numbness from the anesthetic wears off. You may feel some tenderness for a few days after your treatment, but over-the-counter medication can usually manage this discomfort.

If you had a temporary filling or crown placed, you should avoid chewing or biting on the treated area until it is fully restored. Further, because unrestored teeth are more susceptible to fracture, you should avoid hard food until the permanent restorations have been placed. 

Sleeping woman

"Great service"

Family Dental Care has been my choice for dental work for over 20 years! They're always courteous and professional, not to mention their effectiveness! Darryl A.
Dr. Danny O'Keefe

Family Dental Care

At Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, Dr. Danny O'Keefe and his experienced team provide patients from throughout the greater Jackson area with superior general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Our office is equipped with modern dental technology and we offer complete sedation services to enhance patient comfort. Dr. O'Keefe is affiliated with:

  • The American Dental Association
  • The Mississippi Dental Association
  • The Academy of General Dentistry
  • The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

To schedule an appointment, please fill out our online form or call (601) 936-2526.

Contact Us Today

"This office has the most professional dentists and dental staff. They treat you like family every time you're there. I've been a patient for over 15 years and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon." Rita O., Current Patient

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