Root Canals : Grove City Center for Dentistry

Root Canals

Root canals preserve your natural teeth and smile.

At The Grove City Center for Dentistry, we perform root canals as a way to preserve your natural teeth.

Performing a root canal allows us to do just that. We recommend a root canal when we find inflammation or infection in the pulp of your tooth.

There are many different causes of infection or inflammation, including decay, prolonged teeth grinding, multiple procedures on the same tooth, or even chips or cracks in the tooth.  Sometimes, an injury to a tooth can cause pulp damage even if there are no visible cracks. When this happens, we may recommend a root canal to treat the damaged pulp.

The “pulp” is the soft tissue that fills the inside of your tooth and runs down through the center of the roots. The roots of your teeth look like two canals, which is how a root canal gets its name. If the pulp inside the root canals of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected, it can be extremely painful and may lead to an abscess.

The Root Canal Procedure at The Grove City Center for Dentistry

Dr. Simone or Dr. Lowe will consult with you to determine if a root canal is the best course of action for your treatment needs.

  • The actual root canal procedure is relatively simple. Dr. Simone or Dr. Lowe will “isolate” your tooth to prevent saliva and bacteria that is inside your mouth from entering the tooth.
  • We will make an opening in the crown of the tooth, and then clean the pulp from the internal anatomy to shape the space for the filling material.
  • Once the inside of your tooth is cleaned and shaped, Dr. Simone or Dr. Lowe will fill and seal the root canals of your tooth with a resin material.
  • After we seal the roots, we place a hard restoration in the tooth to further seal off the root canal system from the oral cavity.

After your root canal procedure, you may need to return to The Grove City Center for Dentistry to have a crown, or another type of restoration, placed on the tooth to protect it and ensure it is fully functional.

Frequently Asked Questions about Root Canals

How long does a root canal take?

The average root canal treatment is about 30 to 60 minutes long. More complex cases may take longer. A root canal typically requires one or two appointments to complete.

Are root canals painful?

We get this question a lot. Root canals are not painful.  The pain people feel when they need a root canal is caused by the infection in the tooth, not by the actual root canal procedure.  Dr. Simone and Dr. Lowe will administer a local anesthesia before performing the root canal to ensure you are pain-free during the process.

How should I care for my tooth after a root canal?

We recommend you care for your repaired tooth just like your natural teeth.  Brush and floss daily.  Visit The Grove City Center for Dentistry for your regular dental exams and cleanings. And, avoid chewing on hard foods that may cause your teeth to crack. Click here to learn more about root canals.

Contact Us

If you have additional questions about Root Canals, contact us at patients@gccdentistry.com or (614) 389-9264. Feel free to use our online contact form below, or even click to schedule your appointment online.

Grove City Center for Dentistry