Root Canal Treatment in Lawrenceville, GA | Above and Beyond Dentistry

Restorative

Root Canal Therapy

Treating infection inside the tooth so the natural tooth can stay in place — in most cases comfortably, and often in a single visit.

Call 770-995-0538 Request an appointment

Do you need one?

Signs the nerve is involved

Not every toothache means a root canal, and some teeth that need one hurt very little. These are the signs worth having looked at rather than waiting out.

Severe or prolonged pain

A severe toothache, or sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers long after the source is gone.

Darkening

Discoloration of a single tooth compared with its neighbours.

Swelling or tenderness

Soreness or swelling in the gums near the tooth.

A persistent pimple

An abscess or pimple-like spot on the gum that comes and goes.

Pain when biting

Discomfort when chewing or when pressure is applied to that tooth.

Deep decay

Decay visible on examination or X-ray that has reached the pulp.

What it is

Treatment that saves the tooth

Inside every tooth is a soft core of nerve and blood vessels called the pulp. When decay, a crack or an injury lets bacteria reach it, the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, and that is what produces the pain.

A root canal removes the damaged pulp, cleans and disinfects the canals inside the roots, and seals them. The outer tooth, the part that does the chewing, stays exactly where it is.

The alternative to treatment is usually extraction, which then leads to a bridge or an implant. Keeping your own tooth is almost always the better outcome.

Why save your natural tooth?

✓Nothing functions as well as your natural tooth

✓Preserves jawbone and prevents adjacent teeth from shifting

✓More cost-effective long term than extraction plus an implant

✓No recovery period beyond normal post-operative healing

✓Maintains natural bite force and sensation

The process

What the appointment involves

Most root canals are completed in one or two visits. IV sedation is available with Dr. Fisk if you would rather not be aware of any of it.

Diagnosis & anesthesia

Digital X-rays confirm the diagnosis. Local anesthesia numbs the area completely before any treatment begins. Sedation is available for anxious patients.

Access & pulp removal

A small opening is made in the crown of the tooth. Using precise instruments, the infected or inflamed pulp tissue is carefully removed from the canal system.

III

Cleaning & shaping

The canals are meticulously cleaned, shaped and disinfected using hand and rotary instruments together with antimicrobial irrigants, eliminating bacterial contamination.

Sealing & restoration

The canals are filled and sealed with biocompatible material. A crown then protects the tooth, and in many cases we can make it the same day with CEREC.

Afterward

Recovery is usually undramatic

The relief is often immediate, because the source of the pain is gone. What remains is tenderness in the surrounding tissue for a few days, which over-the-counter pain relief handles for most people.

The first few days

Mild soreness when biting is normal. Chew on the other side until the permanent restoration is in place.

Protect the tooth

Do not put off the crown. A treated tooth left unprotected can fracture, and a fractured root cannot be saved.

Long term

A properly treated and restored tooth can last the rest of your life. Brush, floss and keep your checkups as you would with any other tooth.

FAQ

Root canal questions, answered

Does a root canal hurt?

This is the most common misconception in dentistry. With modern anesthesia and technique, treatment feels much like having a filling placed. The pain people associate with root canals is the infection that made one necessary.

How long does the procedure take?

Most root canals are completed in one appointment of 60 to 90 minutes. Complex cases or multi-canal molars may take longer or need a second visit.

What happens after the root canal?

Some mild soreness for a few days is normal and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. A crown then protects the tooth, since removing the pulp leaves it more brittle.

Is extraction a better option than a root canal?

In nearly all cases, saving the natural tooth is preferable. Extraction leads to a bridge or implant, which costs more over time and never functions quite like your own tooth.

Will I need sedation?

Most patients do not need it, because local anesthesia is highly effective. If you would rather not be aware of any of it, Dr. Craig Fisk is certified in Georgia to administer intravenous sedation.

How long does a treated tooth last?

With a proper crown restoration and good oral hygiene, a root canal treated tooth can last a lifetime.

In pain right now? Call 770-995-0538 and we will get you seen.

Real results