Root Canal Therapy in Lafayette, LA
For many patients, the words “You need a root canal” strike fear into their hearts. The truth, however, is that advances in dental technology and sedation dentistry techniques have made most root canal procedures simpler, safer, and practically painless.
Often, patients who need a root canal are experiencing severe pain in the affected tooth. A root canal relieves that pain and restores the functionality of the tooth. Without a root canal, you could lose the tooth.
Our dentists, Drs. Jerome Smith and Danny Domingue, are skilled in performing root canal therapies and other endodontic procedures and will work with you to make sure you are comfortable throughout the entire procedure.
What Is a Root Canal?
The root canal is actually part of the structure of your tooth. It is inside your tooth and contains the pulp of your tooth as well as the nerve. Root canal therapy is a procedure that is performed on a tooth that has developed an infection in the root canal. Because the infection is located inside the tooth, opening the tooth is necessary to destroy the infection.
Before we begin your root canal, we will make sure that you are thoroughly numbed and completely comfortable. At this point, we will drill an access hole into your tooth that allows us to reach
the infected part of your tooth. Working through this hole, we will use specialized instruments to clean out bacteria and decayed or infected material. If necessary, we may also apply a local antibiotic.
Once your tooth has been cleaned out, and the infection is completely gone, we will seal your tooth using filling material. Your tooth may also be covered with a crown to protect and stabilize it.
Some discomfort may remain following the procedure, but this results from your body’s own inflammatory process. This discomfort will quickly fade once your immune system realizes that the infection is gone, and in the meantime, we can prescribe medication to help if necessary.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
Infection, decay, trauma, and other types of damage to your tooth could create the need for root canal therapy. Most of the time, people who need a root canal are experiencing symptoms that include pain, sensitivity, and abscesses on the gums.
In some cases, the need for a root canal can be seen on an x-ray or other digital image before symptoms become severe or even apparent. If this is your situation, we will review your images with you to explain why a root canal is necessary. We prefer to treat the situation as early as possible to prevent an infection from spreading into other teeth or into your bloodstream, where it can wreak havoc throughout your body. We would also strongly prefer that our patients not experience pain!
Contact Our Lafayette Dental Office
We know that the idea of a root canal can be scary, but we want to reassure you that the bad reputation of the root canal is undeserved. If you are experiencing pain or tenderness or if you have a pimple-like sore on your gum that won’t go away, please call our office today for an evaluation so we can get to the bottom of your problem and treat it.
When people ask about root canals, they are actually referring to root canal therapy. 
Drs. Smith and Domingue are experts when it comes to 
Because each patient’s case is different, we cannot determine what will work best for you before a complete exam. However, we do know that after a root canal procedure, your tooth may become brittle and more susceptible to breaking.
Usually, the pain associated with a 
