Root Canals Specialist
Veal Dental Care
Scott Veal, DMD
General and Cosmetic Dentistry located in Dunwoody, GA
Despite their undeserved bad reputation, you shouldn’t be scared of a root canal. They’re no more uncomfortable than a filling, and they actually alleviate the pain of your infected or damaged tooth. Scott Veal, DMD, provides safe, effective, and gentle root canals for his patients at Veal Dental Care. Schedule your root canal consultation today by calling the office in Dunwoody, Georgia, or booking an appointment online.
Root Canals Q & A
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a procedure used to treat a tooth with damaged or infected pulp. Your pulp is the soft tissue that fills up the inside of your tooth.
It contains blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerve fibers, and when it gets damaged or infected, it swells and presses against your inner tooth. That pressure pinches the nerves, which causes pain and discomfort.
When you get a root canal, Dr. Veal removes your damaged pulp but leaves the rest of your tooth intact. This is a great improvement on the older method of treating damaged pulp, which was to simply extract the tooth entirely.
By performing a root canal, Dr. Veal can restore your oral health without significantly altering the natural structures in your mouth.
When do I need a root canal?
You need a root canal if your tooth pulp is damaged or infected, which can be indicated by any of the following:
- Dark or discolored tooth
- Severe and spontaneous pain in your tooth
- Pain when you bite down
- Foul odor in your mouth
- Pus around your gumline
- Small pimple on your gum near your tooth root
- Gums that are swollen or inflamed
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with Dr. Veal immediately.
What happens during a root canal?
Dr. Veal starts by drilling a small hole in the top of your tooth. He uses a series of special tools to extract your damaged pulp through the hole, sterilizes the inside of your tooth, and then fills the chamber with a material called gutta-percha.
He finishes the procedure by restoring the structural integrity of your tooth with a crown.
Are root canals painful?
Root canals have a reputation as being painful, but they’re actually no more uncomfortable than a standard dental filling. Dr. Veal numbs your tooth and oral tissues with a local anesthetic before your procedure, so you won’t feel any discomfort during your treatment.
Don’t wait to restore your oral health. Schedule your root canal today by calling Veal Dental Care or using the online booking tool.
