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Posts for tag: root canal
How your dentist in Huntsville, Alabama can help you
There is a lot of information out there about root canal treatment and you deserve to know the facts. Dr. Michael Pugh in Huntsville, Alabama, can help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to root canal treatment. Here are just a few of the common questions and answers about root canal treatment.
What are some of the signs and symptoms you may need a root canal?
- Tooth pain that doesn’t go away, even after dental treatment
- Throbbing, aching pain or pressure that continues throughout the day
- Sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down
- Throbbing pain when you eat or drink hot or cold foods or beverages
- A red or white bump on your gums next to the root of a tooth
- Blood or pus draining from the bump on your gums
Do root canals hurt?
Root canals relieve pain and pressure associated with abscesses and dental infections. Don't worry about discomfort, root canal treatment is performed while your tooth and the surrounding gum tissue is profoundly numb. Your dentist will use a wide range of anesthesia techniques including local anesthetic, sedation, or medication. Typically, you will not feel pain during the procedure.
How many appointments does a root canal take?
Typically, root canal therapy requires at least two appointments. At the first appointment, a small opening is made in the top of your tooth and the nerves and blood supply to the tooth are removed through the opening. A sedative is placed inside your tooth to help relieve pain and pressure. After your tooth has calmed down and is no longer painful, it is filled in with an inert material and resealed.
Do I need a dental crown after root canal treatment?
It is best to have a crown placed after your tooth has had a root canal because after the blood supply and nerves are removed, a tooth can become brittle and more prone to breaking. A dental crown protects your entire tooth from the stress of biting and chewing.
Contact us!
These are just a few of the common questions and answers related to root canal treatment. To find out more about root canal therapy and other restorative, cosmetic, and preventive dental services, call Dr. Michael Pugh in Huntsville, Alabama today! (256) 536-3386.
Dental decay is a common issue for Americans, which is why root canal therapy is one of the most common dental treatments administered by dentists. In a way, root canal therapy can be considered a preventative measure, because it prevents unnecessary tooth loss or extraction. It’s preferable to keep all of your original teeth for as long as possible, if not for a lifetime. Keep an eye out for these signs that may indicate a need for a root canal session with Huntsville, AL, dentist Dr. Michael Pugh.
Intrinsic Discoloration
Watch for what is called intrinsic discoloration, which is a darkening of the teeth at the inner layers. It may be an indication of either dental trauma or disease. When one tooth starts to lose its color while the others stay the same, that is an isolated issue that may be related to a single tooth's infection or decaying nerve tissue.
Severe Tooth or Jaw Pain
Mild tooth sensitivity sometimes happens in patients when they eat certain foods, but it is not normal to experience severe sharp tooth pain. Pain is a sign that the nerves of the tooth are irritated or infected. That infected tissue must be completely removed by your Huntsville, AL dentist to get relief and save the tooth.
Boils, Bumps, and Other Gum Abnormalities
Sometimes when there is a problem inside of a tooth, evidence will start to show along the gumline. If you notice any bumps or boils forming on the gums (especially if it’s in a painful spot) this could be a sign of a dental abscess or infection. Check the gums for swelling and redness as well.
Make the Appointment
Despite the myths and fears about root canals, this treatment is often the best choice for keeping your smile healthy and disease-free. Contact Huntsville, AL, dentist Dr. Michael Pugh at (256) 536-3386 today to schedule an appointment.

Root canal, or endodontic (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth) treatment, is often wrongly perceived as a highly unpleasant experience and one that causes tremendous pain. However, the truth is that the procedure actually relieves the pain being caused by an infected and inflamed tooth pulp (inside of the tooth). Advances in dentistry have made treatment virtually pain free and it can be completed relatively quickly, usually in a single visit. Left untreated, infection can spread into the bone immediately around the tooth's root, so prompt attention is the best course of action.
If the term “root canal” still sends shivers down your spine, don't despair. Here is some information that should help put your mind at ease.
- Root canal treatment is necessary when deep decay or trauma has caused the inside (pulp) of the tooth to become inflamed or infected. Symptoms of infection can include sharp pain when biting down, lingering pain after consuming very hot or cold foods, a dull ache and feeling of pressure near the infected tooth, and tender gum tissue surrounding the infected tooth.
- After a local anesthetic is administered to numb the infected tooth and its surrounding area, we will make a small opening on the chewing surface of the tooth. This will allow us to remove dead and dying tissue from the pulp and to then clean and disinfect the root canals. Using small instruments, we will shape the canals and seal them with biocompatible filling materials.
- You may feel slight tenderness at the treated site for a few days, but this is quite manageable and can be relieved with over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen. You should refrain from chewing on the treated tooth until your follow-up appointment. A crown or other restoration may be needed to protect the tooth and restore it to full function.
If you think you might be a candidate for a root canal treatment, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If you would like to learn more about the process of root canal treatment, please read the Dear Doctor magazine article “Common Concerns About Root Canal Treatment.”

While some people associate the need for root canal treatment with an injury or trauma to a tooth (which is a valid cause), it can also most commonly be caused by tooth decay that is left untreated. This is the reason why we have put together this brief guide to explain the three common stages of tooth decay that lead up to the need for a root canal.
Stage 1: During this stage, decay begins to form in the tiny grooves on the biting surface of a tooth or where the teeth contact each other. The result is loss of the surface enamel of the tooth.
Stage 2: Left untreated, the disease progresses through the enamel and into the dentin, which forms the body of the tooth. Once in the dentin, it progresses more rapidly until it reaches the pulp — the living tissue within the root canals of the tooth. The decay infects the pulp tissues, which contain the nerves of the teeth, causing pain. The end result of inflammation and infection of the pulp is that it dies.
Stage 3: As the nerve dies an infection results, which causes pain and swelling. For some people who do not regularly visit our office, this may be the first physical sign that they have a problem. But all is not lost, a successful root canal treatment, whereby the infected pulpal tissue is removed and the root canals are cleaned and sealed will not only relieve the pain, but save your tooth. So the good news is that once a tooth has had the appropriate endodontic treatment (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth) followed by a proper restoration, the tooth can last as long as your other teeth. The key is to take proper care of your teeth, have routine cleanings, and visit our office as soon as you feel you have a problem with a tooth.
If you are having pain or symptoms from a tooth or teeth, check it out with us — you may or may not need a root canal treatment. Contact our office to schedule an appointment and find out. Don't wait until it's too late. And to learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatments for a root canal, read the article “I'd Rather Have A Root Canal....”

One of the most common treatments we are asked about is a root canal and the unfortunate bad reputation associated with it. The truth is that the procedure actually relieves the pain associated with the problem and not visa versa. And here's why.
A root canal or endodontic treatment (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth) is a necessary procedure in which diseased pulp tissue — and the nerve, which responds by causing the pain — is removed. This is followed by cleaning and sealing the root canals. This usually results from pulp inflammation and infection as a result of a severe decay or in a heavily filled tooth. Root canal treatment is typically performed by general dentists who have taken specialized training or by endodontists, dentists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of root canal problems. We perform them here in our practice to save a tooth, literally, from further damage and/or loss.
Here is a quick overview of the procedure. We will begin by making a small opening in the chewing surface of your tooth so that we can access the tooth's root canal. We use small instruments to remove the dead and dying tissues of the pulp. The root canals are cleaned and disinfected. The canals are then sealed with a biocompatible filling material. Lastly, we will seal the access hole with a filling material. You will then need to get a permanent restoration or crown to protect the tooth fully.
If you feel that you have the symptoms of a root canal problem and may need a root canal treatment, contact us to schedule an appointment. And to learn more about the signs, symptoms, and what to expect after root canal treatment, read the article “Common Concerns About Root Canal Treatment.”