Root Canals

Unfortunately, root canal treatment has gotten so much bad press that it isn’t any wonder people react with dread when they learn they need the procedure. But we can assure that, at Whitetree Dental, our root canals are no more complicated than having a tooth filled. 

Comfortable, Stress-Free Treatment

Over the years, dentists have had a lot of practice performing root canals; estimates indicate that dentists across the US perform 41,000 every day. That’s 25 million root canals every year!

All this experience has resulted in improved techniques, materials, and technology that ensure that stressful root canals are a thing of the past. Dr. Shin and Dr. Kim dedicate themselves to staying current with these changes to provide you with the highest standard of comfortable care possible.

What Does Root Canal Treatment Do?

Deep inside your tooth is an area called the pulp chamber. Pulp is a soft living inner structure that houses the blood vessels and nerves of each tooth. When a tooth is so severely inflamed or infected that the damage penetrates this area, you will likely experience severe discomfort. At this point, a root canal is necessary to provide relief and save the tooth.

Root canal therapy involves gently removing infected dental pulp using state-of-the-art rotary endodontic technology. The tooth is cleaned, disinfected, filled, and protected with a dental crown. 

State-of-the-Art Root Canal Treatment

We want to make sure that your treatment is as efficient and comfortable as possible, so we have chosen to invest in cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT). This digital imaging technology gives us a high-resolution 3-D view of the inside of your tooth.

An accurate image is important because certain teeth can have as many as four root canals. Planning your treatment using CBCT ensures the best possible outcome because we can clearly see what we’re dealing with before we start your procedure. 

Gentle Care in a Soothing Environment

We understand that the idea of root canal treatment can be stressful for many people. At Whitetree Dental, your comfort is our priority. Our professional team has worked hard to create a calming and soothing environment that will minimize any stress or anxiety you may feel. 

In many cases, a local anesthetic is all that’s needed to keep you comfortable during root canal treatment. But if you’re still a little nervous, we are happy to offer nitrous oxide sedation. Nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas that’s mixed with oxygen and administered through a small mask over your nose.

All you have to do is sit back and breathe normally. You will remain awake, but you will feel calm, relaxed, and detached from the activity around you. Many patients prefer nitrous because the effects wear off immediately so they can go on with their routine after they leave our office.

Another useful option is oral sedation. Our doctor will prescribe a sedative for you to take before you arrive at our office. You will stay drowsy and relaxed during your procedure, but the effects don’t wear off as quickly as with nitrous, so you will need a friend to get you to and from our office.

Call to Get the Treatment You Need!

If you think you are in need of a root canal, please contact our Little Elm, TX office at (248) 736-7852 as soon as possible. The sooner we can see you for treatment, the sooner we can provide you with the relief you need and save the tooth. If you are in pain, we will see you as soon as possible, usually the same day.