A damaged or broken tooth is often an obvious and painful experience. In most cases, a root canal can help repair and restore the tooth. However, sometimes a broken or damaged tooth is not obvious and you may not know that you need a root canal at all. Luckily, your dentist can help you understand and catch this situation to treat it before it becomes a toothache. Find out more about root canals and signs you may need one with Dr. Michael Amir and Dr. Larry Hamer at SC Dental Group in Sherman Oaks, CA.

What is a root canal? 
A root canal is a dental procedure which removes the inside contents of the tooth and replaces it with a tooth-colored composite resin material. The procedure preserves the structure of the tooth below and above the gumline and avoids the need for extraction. Root canals tend to have a bad reputation of being a painful, long procedure, but are actually begin with enough numbing medication to ensure a painless process and usually take under an hour.

Do I need a root canal? 
If you have a damaged, injured, or decayed tooth, you may benefit from a root canal. A root canal becomes necessary when the tooth’s nerve and blood vessels which lie inside of the tooth and runs down into the roots, called the pulp, becomes damaged. This causes a toothache. Since the root canal removes the tooth’s nerve, it prevents it from feeling pain, curing the toothache.

Root Canals in Sherman Oaks, CA
Your dentist can help you assess the decayed or damaged tooth and determine if a root canal is the best treatment for you. If you think you may require a root canal, you should schedule a dental examination at SC Dental Group. Some situations may be better treated with other procedures.

Find out more about root canal therapy and what it can do for you with Dr. Amir and Dr. Hamer at SC Dental Group in Sherman Oaks, CA. Call (818) 905-5400 to schedule your appointment with your dentist today!