828 NE A St, Grants Pass, OR 97526
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
A root canal is a restorative endodontic treatment that relieves pain and treats a tooth infection caused by decay or trauma to the dental pulp. The pulp is the soft center of the tooth, sitting underneath the enamel and dentin layers, and it's connected directly to the tooth's nerves. That connection is why an infected tooth often causes noticeable pain and sensitivity.
To treat the infection, we carefully remove the affected pulp and clean out the root canals, then fill the inside of the tooth with a material called gutta-percha and seal it. At A Street Dental in Grants Pass, root canal therapy is performed in-house from start to finish, so you're not referred out to a separate endodontist for treatment.
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Signs You May Need a Root Canal
A few symptoms tend to point to an infected tooth that may need root canal therapy:
- Persistent or throbbing tooth pain, especially when chewing or applying pressure
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers well after the stimulus is gone
- Swelling, tenderness, or a small bump on the gum near the affected tooth
- Darkening of the tooth or discoloration
- In some cases, no pain at all, which is why regular exams matter even without symptoms
If any of this sounds familiar, it's worth having the tooth examined before the infection has a chance to spread.
Why We Recommend Saving the Tooth
When a tooth is infected, there are usually two paths forward: treat it with a root canal, or remove it entirely. Whenever the tooth's structure allows for it, we generally recommend root canal therapy first, since keeping your natural tooth helps maintain your bite, jawbone, and the alignment of teeth around it. Extraction is still sometimes the right call, particularly when a tooth is too damaged, fractured, or reinfected to save. If that's the case for you, we'll walk you through extraction and replacement options like a dental implant or bridge, with the same team handling either path.
Root Canal Therapy for Patients Across Southern Oregon
Root canal therapy is one of the treatments that many general dental offices refer to a separate endodontist. At A Street Dental in Grants Pass, we treat infected teeth in-house, which is part of why patients travel to see us from Josephine County, Myrtle Creek, Canyonville, Selma, and communities along the coast when they're dealing with tooth pain.
Types of Root Canals
The location of the affected tooth influences how the procedure is performed and what to expect during recovery. While the overall goal is the same, front and back teeth differ in their structure, access, and restoration needs.
Anterior Root Canals
Anterior root canals are performed on the front six teeth. These procedures are technically more demanding because of the limited space and the angle needed to access the tooth. On the upside, anterior teeth are thinner and typically have only one canal, so cleaning tends to go faster and usually requires less anesthetic and fewer appointments. We access the tooth from the back, and because these teeth aren't used for heavy chewing, a crown usually isn't necessary afterward.
Posterior Root Canals
Posterior root canals are performed on the back teeth, including the molars, and are the most common type of root canal. These teeth have more pits and grooves that are harder to keep clean, making them more prone to decay. Access is made through the top chewing surface, and because posterior teeth can have up to four canals, cleaning and reshaping may take more than one visit. Since these teeth handle significant chewing force, we typically recommend a crown afterward to protect the tooth long-term.
Dealing with Tooth Pain? Let’s Take a Look
The sooner an infected tooth is treated, the more likely we can save it. Reach out to our team in Southern Oregon, and we'll get you in quickly to find out what's going on and what your options are.
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