What is Root Canal Therapy?

At our Onslow County, North Carolina dental practice, root canal therapy is performed when a tooth’s nerve becomes infected or damaged due to decay or injury. To save the affected tooth, the pulp—the living tissue inside the tooth—along with any bacteria and decay, is carefully removed. The space is then cleaned, disinfected, and filled with medicated dental materials to restore the tooth’s full function and strength. Even though root canals have a bad reputation, they’re actually a highly effective way to relieve pain, preserve your natural tooth, and protect your long-term oral health.

Root canal therapy is often the treatment of choice to save a tooth that would otherwise die and need to be extracted. Root canal therapy is usually preferred to fix a decay problem because extraction can be much more difficult. Root canals last forever, for the most part, but a tooth with a previous RCT may need to be re-treated on rare occasions.

What Are Signs and Symptoms Indicating a Root Canal May be Necessary?

There are some obvious signs you may need a root canal, but we hope you’ll always defer to our sound assessment when deciding what tooth can be saved and what cannot. Our dentists’ combined experience, training, and education ensure you’re in the very best hands possible should you show any of these signs of problems:

  • An abscess on the gum
  • Hot and cold sensitivity
  • Toothache pain
  • Swelling/tenderness

– An abscess on the gum
– Hot and cold sensitivity
– Toothache pain
– Swelling/tenderness

Sometimes, a tooth in need of a root canal gives no indication of a problem. However, by having twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings, we can spot problems even when they don’t present any signs or symptoms. During these visits, we also monitor the health of your gums and may recommend periodontal gum therapy if early signs of gum disease are detected. Keeping both your teeth and gums healthy helps reduce the risk of infections that can eventually require root canal treatment.

A root canal will likely be the best treatment option for you if:

  • The infection has developed inside the tooth or at the tip of the root
  • Decay has reached the tooth pulp
  • Trauma has affected the tooth

– Decay has reached the tooth pulp
– The infection has developed inside the tooth or at the tip of the root
– Trauma has affected the tooth

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy offers several important advantages for your oral health and overall well-being. By treating infection at its source, this procedure helps save your natural tooth and prevents more extensive dental problems in the future.

Preserves Your Natural Tooth: Rather than extracting a damaged or infected tooth, a root canal allows you to keep your natural tooth structure—maintaining your bite alignment and preventing neighboring teeth from shifting.

Eliminates Pain and Infection: By removing infected pulp and sealing the tooth, root canal therapy stops discomfort and prevents the spread of bacteria to other areas of the mouth or body.

Restores Full Function: Once restored with a crown or filling, the treated tooth can function normally again, allowing you to chew and speak comfortably without sensitivity or pain.

Prevents Further Dental Problems:  Addressing infection early helps protect your surrounding teeth, gums, and bone from future damage, reducing the risk of needing more complex treatments later.

Natural Appearance and Long-Term Results: Modern root canal techniques, combined with custom dental crowns, restore your tooth’s natural look and strength—often lasting a lifetime with proper care.

Root Canal Therapy Process

This overview outlines the main steps of the root canal process. If you have questions about any part of your treatment, we’re always happy to explain further.

After the area is completely numb, a rubber dam is placed around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An access opening is made on top of the tooth, and a series of root canal files are used to remove the pulp, nerve tissue, and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with our specialized dental instruments.

Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed. At the next appointment, usually within a week, the roots and inner cavity are filled and sealed with dental materials to prevent reinfection.

After Treatment & Restoration

After a root canal, your dentist will determine whether the tooth needs a filling or a dental crown (“cap”). Teeth that experience heavy chewing pressure or have significant decay generally benefit from a crown for added strength and long-term protection. Front teeth or those with minimal damage may only require a filling to restore structure and function.

As with all procedures, we’ll review the steps with you, answer any questions, and provide detailed after-care instructions. If you have any concerns once you’re home, we encourage you to contact us by phone or online form. We understand dental treatment can feel overwhelming, especially for those with dental anxiety, and we’re here to make every visit comfortable and reassuring.

Schedule Your Gentle Root Canal in Jacksonville, NC

At Family Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry, we believe every patient deserves care that’s both effective and compassionate. Our Jacksonville dentists use advanced technology and a gentle touch to make root canal therapy a comfortable experience from start to finish. Whether you’re already in pain or simply want to protect a tooth before the problem worsens, we’re here to help you restore comfort, health, and confidence in your smile.

Don’t wait for tooth pain to get worse—call us today at (910) 353-5171. We’re proud to serve patients across Onslow County, North Carolina, with personalized dental care that keeps every smile healthy for years to come.