When an infection reaches the root of the tooth, Dr. Joseph Szymczak will perform a root canal treatment. This procedure, also called root canal therapy or endodontic therapy, may also be prescribed when deep restorations or trauma to a tooth cause nerve damage. The danger of an infected tooth is that the infection will spread and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone. If the pulp is infected, not only is it painful, but it will also require treatment, as it cannot heal on its own. If you suffer from sensitivity to temperature or sweets, swelling, pain when biting or a bad taste in the mouth, then you may have a tooth with diseased pulp. However, sometimes no symptoms are apparent, and you may be unaware of any problem until your visit to our office.
A root canal in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is performed by our dentist in order to clean out the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth. Once the infection has been removed, Dr. Szymczak will enlarge the canals of the tooth and fill the opening with a special material that gives structure to the tooth and prevents any further infection. An alternative to a root canal would be to remove the tooth, which may require additional procedures to restore your smile.
If you think that a root canal will help keep your mouth healthy, call MI Roots Family Dental at 616-453-0002 today.
616-453-0002