Save Your Teeth and Your Smile with Root Canal Therapy

If you are plagued by tooth pain or have received dental fillings and crowns for the same tooth multiple times, you may need root canal therapy. With this vital treatment, Dr. Bruce Watkins and his team can save an infected tooth, eliminate the need for extraction, and prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of your smile. Patients can enjoy restored oral function without worrying about aching teeth. 

Common Signs of an Infected Tooth

When bacteria reaches the innermost layer of soft pulp in your tooth, it can spread to the nerves and root canals. Consequently, toothaches ranging from mild to severe are the most common signs of infection. Patients often also notice sharp pains or aches when biting down on hard foods or drinking cold beverages. Other symptoms include chronic bad breath, gum abscesses, and darkened teeth.

Unfortunately, infection can sometimes develop without any symptoms. If the nerve in your tooth is dead, then you will likely feel no pain at all. But while you may not feel anything wrong, the bacteria can still severely damage your tooth and surrounding tissues. As a result, routine checkups play an important role in preventative care.

The Importance of Receiving Treatment

If visits to the dentist make you anxious, you may be tempted to put off seeking treatment, despite the pain. Other than extraction, however, root canals are the only way to treat an infected tooth and still preserve your natural smile. Root canal therapy can even protect the surrounding teeth by eliminating the source of infection. Receiving treatment as soon as possible is the best way to ensure your long-term oral health. 

Furthermore, root canals are not often painful procedures. In fact, because repeated infection can kill the nerve, most patients feel almost no discomfort during their appointment. 

What to Expect 

Dr. Watkins can typically finish your root canal in a single visit. Because many patients are nervous about pain during the procedure, he provides both oral sedation and nitrous oxide at the beginning of the appointment to help you stay comfortable. He can then begin to remove the infected pulp through a small hole in the tooth. Once it is completely cleaned out, he can seal up the canal with gutta-percha.

Root canal therapy can eliminate pain and protect your smile against future infection in a single appointment. 

Finally, Dr. Watkins can reshape the outer tooth and cap it with a dental crown. Because we can create your crown on-site with a CEREC® machine, we can place this permanent restoration on the same day of your appointment and ensure that it blends in with your smile as naturally as possible.

Eliminate Painful Toothaches Today

Root canal therapy can eliminate pain and protect your smile against future infection in a single appointment. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Watkins strives to ensure that your procedure is performed with the highest level of care. To learn more about your treatment options for treating your infected tooth, contact us online today or by calling us at (574) 293-9832.

exterior of our office

Watkins Family Dentistry Bruce Watkins, DDS

Watkins Family Dentistry is a comprehensive dental practice in Elkhart, IN, providing general, cosmetic, and restorative care. Dr. Bruce Watkins is a highly trained dentist affiliated with:

  • International Dental Implant Association (IDIA), Diplomate
  • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)
  • American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE)
  • Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)
  • American Dental Association (ADA)
  • Chicago Dental Society (CDS)

To request an appointment, please fill out our online form or call (574) 293-9832.

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