If you have questions about root canal treatment, we have answers.

Unfortunately the words “root canal” are often synonymous with worry, dread, pain and other unpleasant descriptors; however, our St. Clair Shores, MI, dentist Dr. P. Steven Wainess wants to dispel these awful myths surrounding this extremely common and fairly simple endodontic procedure.

What are the benefits of a root canal?

The most obvious benefit of getting a root canal is that this simple procedure could end up saving your tooth and prevent the need for an extraction in the future. The goal should always be to preserve a natural tooth whenever possible.

Once the tooth has been treated, Dr. Wainess will also place a dental crown over it to protect the weak tooth and to restore strength and resilience back into the tooth. Once the crown is cemented into place the tooth is fully restored so you can enjoy all of your favorite foods again.

But isn’t a root canal painful?

Before performing a root canal, our St. Clair Shores, MI, general dentist will numb the gums with a local anesthetic so you won’t feel anything.

In many cases, a patient discovers that they need a root canal because they were dealing with a painful toothache that didn’t go away. An infected dental pulp can cause some pretty intense and unbearable pain. In order to get rid of your pain, we will need to remove the infected pulp. So, in essence, a root canal is designed to eliminate pain not cause it. Some patients even report immediate relief once the infected pulp has been removed.

If you are dealing with a toothache or sudden tooth sensitivity these are classic warning signs that you might need root canal therapy. Don’t ignore your symptoms. Call our St. Clair Shores, MI, dental office at (586) 293-1515 today and let us know what’s going on.