Root canals don't have be stressful when you work with an experienced and caring dental team.

Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is a restorative dental procedure that relieves pain and gives an infected or abscessed tooth a second chance. Modern root canals are comfortable and efficient and really no different from any other dental procedure.

Root Canal Therapy

Deep inside your tooth, underneath enamel and dentin, is an area called the pulp chamber. This part of the tooth contains tissue and nerves that keep the tooth healthy, but pulp can become infected if bacteria enter the area through a fracture, deep decay, or trauma.

The most obvious sign of an infected tooth is a severe toothache, and the only solution to relieve the pain is to remove the infected pulp with root canal treatment.

What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

Your comfort is our priority, so the first step is to administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth to ensure that you feel no pain during the procedure. Once the anesthetic takes hold, and we are sure the tooth is numb, our dentist creates an opening in the tooth to access the pulp area. We then carefully remove every trace of infected pulp, disinfect the area and fill the area to prevent reinfection.

The final step is to place a tooth filling or a dental crown on the tooth to strengthen and protect it so you can chew comfortably again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a root canal?

Learning that you need a root canal doesn’t seem like good news to most people. But catching a problem inside your tooth means it will get the treatment it needs, ending your pain and preserving the tooth. A dentist performs root canals to save infected, damaged, or diseased teeth.

Your teeth have several layers - the outer enamel, the hard dentin underneath, and the inner pulp, which contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. If damage, infection, or inflammation penetrates the inner pulp, the tooth is at risk.

A root canal may be recommended in these situations:

Deep tooth decay
Fractures, large chips, or cracks
Disease or infection in the inner pulp

Signs that you might need a root canal include tooth pain when biting down, sensitivity to hot and cold, tooth darkening, tenderness or swelling in the gums, or a pimple-like bump on your gums.

In the root canal procedure, the dentist removes the infected tooth pulp and seals the area. A dental filling or crown protects the tooth and completes the restoration.

If you’re concerned about a tooth, call your dentist right away for a dental exam. Root canals are highly successful, common procedures that can put an end to your pain or sensitivity and restore your tooth.

Do I Need a Root Canal?

If you have been experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, call our office immediately. You may have a tooth infection that requires immediate treatment.

Severe pain in one or more teeth
Pain when touching the tooth
Pain and sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Darkening of one or more teeth
A raised bump on the gums
A bad taste in your mouth
Swelling and tenderness in the gums that may radiate to the cheek

Call our office to make an appointment to see if you need root canal therapy, so we can get you out of pain and save the tooth.

Our Team

Meet More of Our Team

Dr. Andrew Jeffers

Dr. Andrew Jeffers has been caring for Bedford families since 2016, when he joined the practice as an associate. In 2017, he purchased Bedford Family Dentistry from Dr. James Seitz, continuing the practice's legacy of excellent care while bringing his own vision and energy to it.

Dr. Jeffers earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, in 2006, followed by his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia in 2010. He is an active member of the American Dental ...

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