Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry

Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Wilmington, DE

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Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry > Services > Root Canals / Endodontic Therapy

The gentle root canal treatment offered at our Wilmington, DE dental office puts patient comfort at the forefront.

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Root Canal Therapy in the Wilmington Area

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Root Canals in Pike Creek, DE

man smiling in dentist exam chair | root canals wilmington de Despite the bad jokes and the ill-conceived notions that the procedure is painful, the truth is that root canal therapy in Wilmington, DE, can actually save your tooth. Even with all the advances and advantages of modern dentistry, there is no replacement that is better than your own natural tooth. Root canal therapy in Wilmington will eliminate your pain and the infection in your tooth that's causing it while also preserving your natural tooth.

What Happens During Root Canal Therapy at Gladnick Family Dentistry?

Is your tooth sensitive or painful when exposed to hot or cold? Does it throb? Do you have pain that travels to your ear or eye? Do you have swelling around your tooth? These are all possible signs that you may need endodontic (root canal) treatment.

During root canal treatment, one of our dentists carefully removes the infected and diseased tissue inside your tooth, seals it with a small temporary filling, and then gives it ample time to heal properly. Once your tooth has completely healed, you'll return to Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry to have a permanent crown or filling placed. This protects your tooth, which tends to be more brittle after root canal treatment, and ensures you enjoy the functions of eating and chewing you had before your tooth infection.

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Contrary to the stories you may have heard about root canals, the procedure actually relieves your pain and eliminates tooth infection. Thanks to the latest in modern techniques and the best dental anesthetic available, most of our patients in the New Castle County area report that they are comfortable during the procedure. You may experience some sensitivity for the first few days after the treatment, but this is minimal and normal. Better yet, you'll get to retain your natural tooth without having to worry about costly tooth replacement.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

The immediate benefit of root canal treatment is much-needed pain relief. However, there are several other reasons why this procedure is crucial for your oral health and well-being.

Saves Your Natural Tooth

Root canal therapy eliminates infection and pain and preserves your natural tooth structure. You can avoid extractions and costly tooth replacement procedures, ensuring your smile remains intact and as natural as possible. Keeping a natural tooth is always the best choice for long-term oral health.

Restore Chewing Function

If you've been avoiding chewing on the tooth due to pain, root canal treatment, followed by restoration with a crown or filling, gives it the strength needed to function like a healthy tooth. You’ll be able to chew, speak, and smile confidently without the discomfort of a painful, infected tooth.

Protects Overall Oral Health

Removing the infected pulp and sealing the tooth with root canal therapy prevents the infection from spreading to neighboring teeth, gums, and other parts of your body. This proactive treatment helps maintain the balance and health of your entire mouth and protects your overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are root canals painful?

We hear this question a lot, and the easy answer is – No!

Dentists the world over would like nothing more than to dispel all the myths and negativity surrounding root canals! This is a critical procedure that does not cause pain – it relieves it!

Wilmington patients who have had root canals with Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry have nothing but good things to say. Most tell us that the procedure was much easier than they anticipated.

There’s a chamber deep inside your tooth that houses nerves and tissue that keep the tooth alive. When decay penetrates this part of the tooth, it becomes infected, causing severe discomfort. We provide relief from this pain by performing root canal treatment.

The pain you feel before treatment is a result of the infection. Unfortunately, many people associate this pain with the procedure itself. The truth is that as soon as we numb the tooth to start the procedure, you will feel immediate relief. You may experience sensitivity for a day or two following treatment, but that’s true of many dental procedures.

If you think you may need a root canal, please call our Wilmington dental office. We’ll see you as soon as possible to provide you with the relief you need!

What are the signs that I may need a root canal?

Root canal therapy, unfortunately, gets a lot of undeserved hatred and fear. Many people misunderstand root canal treatment and what exactly it does, causing them to be afraid of the procedure and even avoid it entirely if their dentist ever recommends it.

If you need a root canal or emergency root canal in Wilmington, don’t worry—we have experienced, gentle dentists who can take care of you and get your tooth on its way to healing. Root canals typically feel no different than a standard tooth filling, and you will be kept comfortable and numb during the entire procedure.

But how do you know if you need a root canal in the first place? Your most obvious and most prominent indicator will be pain. Root canal therapy removes an infection from deep inside a tooth, so teeth that require a root canal are typically very painful.

Other signs that you should see your dentist in Wilmington for treatment include:

Sensitivity to temperature around a specific tooth
Pain when you chew your food or bite down
Irregular and sudden darkening of a tooth
A tenderness that extends to your neighboring gums

The preferred way to know for sure whether you need a root canal or if your toothache is a sign of something else is to schedule a dental appointment with your dentist so they can evaluate the area more closely. If you’re worried about a painful tooth and want to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry!

What Happens If I Don't Get Root Canal Treatment?

sideview of root canal steps | dentist wilmington delaware

When a tooth's pulp is damaged, extraction is the only other alternative to endodontic therapy. However, once the tooth is extracted, we must fill the space to prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting and moving your bite out of alignment. Your dentist can usually accomplish this with a bridge or an implant, but these procedures are much more costly than the endodontic treatment.

The bottom line is, even with the advancements in tooth replacement technology, nothing is more suitable than your own natural tooth. Root canal therapy will allow you to keep your natural tooth—a clear advantage.

Our office is close to Centerville, Greenville, and Hockessin, and you'll find our convenient location on the Kirkwood Highway between Wilmington and Newark. Call our dental office in 19808 at (302) 994-2660 with any questions.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Jason Justison

Dr. Justison grew up in Pike Creek, Delaware, just around the corner from the office. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology, minor in chemistry from University of Delaware, researching cancer biology, physics, and biochemistry. He then went on to dental school at Temple University in ...

Featured Blog Posts - Root Canals / Endodontic Therapy

July 30, 2023

Six Reasons You Might Need a Root Canal

A man getting a dental exam | dentist Wilmington Delaware

If you are experiencing a dental issue, it can be scary and unnerving. You may not know when you need to call your Wilmington dentist, and you might be anxious about calling because you are afraid of what they might say. If that sounds familiar, you should know that we ...

The Truth About Root Canals

man smiling in dental exam chair l Drs. Justison and Gladnick

Comedians have long made jokes about root canals—usually, the punchline indicates a painful procedure that you don’t want. The truth is much different. Today’s technologies mean that root canal treatment is not particularly painful. It does not even require much recovery. In fact, root canals in Wilmington are designed ...

The Dangers of Postponing a Root Canal

woman in pain holding her jaw | root canals wilmington de

Root canals are the dental procedure that many patients perceive as most painful, but it is also the one that relieves the awful pain of an infected tooth.

If you’re dealing with an infected or abscessed tooth, your priority is pain relief. And while root canals in Wilmington, DE will relieve ...