Root Canal in Attleboro, MA

Attleboro Family Dental Care provides endodontic treatment in Attleboro, MA. Call 508-222-2510 to learn more and schedule your appointment.

Endodontics is a dental specialty that deals primarily with diagnosing and treating tooth pain. The most common procedure performed by endodontists is root canal therapy. Although root canals have a reputation for being painful, many patients are surprised to find out that the treatment is no more painful than having a cavity filled. Our endodontist, Dr. Monaf Alyassi, uses advanced endodontic techniques and local anesthesia to ensure that patients are comfortable throughout the procedure.

Root canals are needed whenever the pulp at the center of a tooth is compromised by decay or injury. In most cases, the affected tooth is opened, then the pulp is removed and the chamber is carefully cleaned and disinfected to eliminate bacteria and prevent reinfection. After sealing the chamber with a special material, a crown or dental filling is used to repair the tooth and protect it from future infection. A temporary crown may be placed during your first visit, with a permanent dental crown installed at a second appointment.

In addition to root canal therapy, endodontists provide endodontic retreatment and apicoectomies. Endodontic treatments allow us to save patients’ natural teeth rather than extracting them, which is the best option for optimal oral health in the long run. Preserving your natural tooth helps prevent bone loss and eliminates the need for dental implants or other tooth replacement options.

After a root canal, you’ll need some type of restorative treatment in order to strengthen and seal the affected tooth. This restoration is often a dental crown, but it may also be an inlay, onlay, or dental filling, depending on the tooth receiving treatment and its anatomy.

The root canal procedure itself is not painful because we use local anesthetic injections to keep you comfortable during the treatment. Many patients wonder "how much pain" they'll experience, and the truth is that modern techniques have made root canals much more comfortable than in the past. As the anesthetic wears off, you are likely to feel some sensitivity and discomfort in the treated tooth. This is normal and can usually be alleviated with cold compresses, a diet of soft foods, and over-the-counter pain relievers until the discomfort subsides.

Dental fillings are only used when decay is in the outermost layers of a tooth. When infection reaches the pulp of a tooth, root canals are needed. If left untreated, infected pulp can lead to severe pain, dark discoloration of the tooth, and even bone loss.

There are many reasons you might be experiencing tooth pain: a cavity, tooth sensitivity, or even having something stuck between two teeth. Toothaches that require root canals usually produce a severe throbbing pain that makes it difficult to sleep, eat, and go about your normal activities. Other symptoms that may indicate you need a root canal include swelling in the gums, dark discoloration, and sensitivity that persists even after the initial trigger is removed.

Yes, you will be awake during your root canal treatment, but local anesthesia is used to ensure that you feel no pain while we work. Root canal therapy is not the major procedure many people fear it to be—it's a routine treatment we perform regularly at our dental office.

Understanding Root Canal Treatment

Root canal therapy has a high success rate and is one of the most effective ways to save a natural tooth that would otherwise require extraction. The success rate for root canal treatment is excellent, with most cases resulting in complete healing and long-term preservation of the tooth. While some patients may require a second appointment to complete the procedure, modern techniques have made root canal therapy faster and more comfortable than ever before.