Root Canals in Covington, GA

At Creative Dentistry of Covington in Covington, GA, we hear the term “root canals” all the time, but it can often be confusing for patients. A root canal is the core of the tooth containing the pulp, nerves, and blood vessels. People, however, also use it to refer to root canal treatments or endodontic procedures.

At Creative Dentistry of Covington, we see multiple patients each week with root canal problems. Our staff members have performed dozens of root canal procedures and are more than comfortable handling your root canal troubles.

Who Needs a Root Canal Treatment?

Patients present to our clinic with pain and increased sensitivity to cold and hot foods and drinks. The pain starts when these foods or drinks are consumed and might last for a while after a person is done eating.

Not getting treatment can lead to nerve death. When the nerve dies, the increased sensitivity usually fades, but that doesn’t mean the issue is resolved. People might also need root canal treatments after a knock to the teeth or repeated dental procedures.

Endodontic or root canal procedures usually take one or two visits, with each visit lasting about 90 minutes. We start by removing the pulp and all the infected tissue then filling the space. This can be done over two steps or just one depending on how many visits the treatment will require.

When a Root Canal Treatment Won’t Suffice

Unfortunately, there are instances where a root canal treatment won’t work, and the tooth needs to be extracted. If a tooth has a fracture affecting the root then it’ll need to be removed. The same applies to teeth that have more damaged parts than healthy ones.

As for third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, we prefer to extract them. These teeth aren’t essential and can be removed. They also often grow in a position that negatively affects the second molars, so it’s best to extract them.

People who have had multiple root canal treatments won’t benefit from more. The odds of a root canal treatment succeeding usually decrease with each successive procedure. At some point, there’s no more benefit in performing them.