Root Canal Therapy in Johns Creek

No. Once bacteria reach the pulp there is no blood supply to fight them off, and the infection spreads down the root into the bone. The pain sometimes fades when the nerve dies, which feels like improvement but is not. Waiting turns a straightforward root canal into an abscess, and sometimes into an extraction.

Extraction is quicker and cheaper on the day, but the gap costs more later: neighboring teeth drift, the bone shrinks, and replacing the tooth with an implant or bridge costs more than the root canal and crown would have. Keeping your own tooth is almost always the conservative choice, which is the one Dr. Bhoompalli favors.

A tooth without its pulp dries out and becomes brittle, and back teeth take a lot of chewing force. A crown covers and protects it so it does not crack. Front teeth with little decay can sometimes be restored with a filling instead; the exam tells us which.

Rarely. The success rate is high, especially when the crown is placed promptly and the tooth is kept clean. If a treated tooth becomes painful years later, it can usually be retreated rather than removed.

Call the office. A tooth in pain is treated as an emergency, and we will get you in as soon as possible. In the meantime, over-the-counter pain relievers and a cold compress on the cheek help, and avoid chewing on that side. Facial swelling needs care the same day. Trouble swallowing or breathing means go to the emergency room.

Tell us. Dr. Bhoompalli starts by explaining every step and showing you what will happen before it does, and you stay in control throughout. Anti-anxiety medication and music are available. Nothing begins until you are comfortable and completely numb.

Antibiotics can calm the swelling and are sometimes prescribed before treatment, but they cannot reach the dead tissue inside the tooth where the bacteria live. The infection returns once the course ends. Only removing the infected pulp fixes the source.