Root Canal Treatment Galloway, OH
A root canal is one of the most feared dental procedures, but it is actually a tooth-saving treatment that can relieve the pain of a bad toothache. Most of our patients report that getting a root canal is no worse than getting a cavity filled.
Why Might I Need a Root Canal?
In most cases, you’ll know when you need a root canal because you’ll have a toothache that has gone from bad to excruciating. This usually means you have an infection deep in the root of your tooth. This is often caused by:
- Deep cavity
- Broken tooth
- Dental abscess
How Is a Root Canal Performed?
When you come into our Galloway, OH practice, the first thing we’ll do is conduct a careful examination and take an x-ray to determine which tooth is causing trouble. We also make sure that it can be saved so that you don’t spend unnecessary time or money.
After completely numbing the area, so you are comfortable for the duration of treatment, we’ll drill a tiny hole in the affected tooth. This will enable us to remove the bacteria and infected pulp and nerves in the tooth. Most of our patients watch TV or listen to music using our noise-canceling headphones while we carefully clean, fill, and seal your tooth.
What Happens Afterward? Can I Go Back to Work?
While you probably won’t mind having the rest of the day off, most of our patients go right back to their regular activities after their visit. In most cases, the area will feel a little sore to bite on for a day or so. Many times though—especially if we were treating a toothache—patients will feel immediate relief from pain.
In most cases, the remaining tooth structure will need a dental crown to strengthen it after a root canal. Because a root canal removes the living tissue from a tooth, the remaining structure tends to become brittle afterward. During your visit, our team will put a temporary crown on the tooth so that you can chew while you wait for a permanent crown to be created in a lab.
Your permanent crown will be ready in a few weeks, at which time you’ll come back to the office so that we can cement it into place. The form and function of your natural tooth will be much like it was before you had a root canal.
What if I’ve Had a Bad Experience With Root Canals in the Past?
Fortunately, as materials and numbing techniques have advanced, this treatment has become one of the most predictable and successful procedures in the dentist's office. Numbing the area with a local anesthetic is usually enough, but if you’re anxious about the procedure, we can also use nitrous oxide to put you in a relaxed state.
If you can arrange for someone to come with you to your appointment, we can prescribe a pill to relax you. In some cases, we can even offer to give you stronger sedation medication so that you have little or no memory of the visit.
Contact Us to Schedule a Dental Appointment
If you would like to find out your options for saving a tooth, please don’t wait to call our office. We’ll get you in quickly and answer any questions you have about getting you back to comfort and health as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Root canals have gotten a bad rap over the years, with most people terrified to hear the mere words “root canal.” But this treatment repairs and saves a badly damaged or infected 
tooth. At our Galloway, OH practice, our doctors have performed many root canals. Patients who have undergone treatment will be the first to tell you that the procedure itself is not a painful one.
In many cases, a severe toothache brings patients into our office. If we determine that your tooth is infected, we will recommend a root canal procedure to relieve the pain and save the tooth. After completely numbing the area, our dentist will make a tiny hole in the affected tooth and remove the infected material and tooth pulp. After rinsing the area with an antibiotic to keep the infection from spreading, the tooth will be filled and sealed.
After A Root Canal
We usually recommend a dental crown afterward since removing the living tissue from a tooth leaves it brittle and prone to damage. A dental crown will protect it, giving you back full function of the tooth.
After the procedure, your tooth might feel a bit sensitive for a couple of days, but the toothache pain that brought you into the office will be greatly alleviated. Call our office to learn more about root canal therapy.
One of the most common indicators of the need for root canal therapy is a toothache that goes from bad to excruciating. This is usually a sign of an infected tooth, and a root canal 
will not only eliminate your pain, but it will also save your tooth. At our Galloway, OH practice, you are in good hands should you need a root canal. You should also know: The procedure itself is no worse than getting a filling given today’s modern dentistry.
Other Root Canal Symptoms
In addition to a toothache, you might have some of the following symptoms that indicate you might need a root canal:
- Tooth pain when you bit down
- Swelling or tenderness in the area near the affected tooth; swelling can also spread to other areas of the face or neck
- A white bump or pimple on the gums near the affected tooth
- Sensitivity to heat or cold
- Discoloration of the affected tooth
Don’t put off going to the dentist if you think you might need a root canal because a root canal will more than likely save your tooth, which is always the best option.
Give us a call today if you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms that you might need a root canal.
The most common reason people need a root canal is because they have an infected tooth. This is usually caused by decay or a broken or cracked tooth. Often the toothache 
starts out mild but gets much worse, and the patient seeks dental treatment. This is often accompanied by sensitivity to hot or cold food or liquids as well as gum tenderness near the affected tooth.
Many people fear the root canal as a painful procedure. In reality, it is a tooth-saving treatment that will relieve your pain and save your tooth. Most people who have had a root canal compare it to getting a run-of-the-mill filling.
The Root Canal Procedure
When you get to the dentist, you’ll undergo an examination and likely an x-ray so the source of your tooth pain can be identified. It will also be determined whether the infected tooth can be saved with a root canal.
The procedure starts with anesthetizing the area so that your dentist can drill a tiny hole in the tooth and pull out the infected tooth pulp. You won’t feel anything while the area is saturated with an antibacterial rinse then filled to prevent the infection from recurring. In most cases, you’ll get a dental crown over the affected tooth to strengthen it and give you back full use of the tooth.
Whether you live in Grove City, Ohio or right here in Galloway and you want to learn more about root canals, we invite you to contact Galloway Smiles for more information.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Josh Halderman
Dr. Josh Halderman is from Centerville, Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University for both his dental degree and his undergraduate degree in Zoology. He has practiced in Columbus since 2006 and in 2016 found his permanent home at Galloway Smiles.
Dr. Halderman is passionate about treating his patients like family and constantly improving his techniques and materials. He has additional training in dental implants and sedation to make your dental visit as comfortable as possible.
Outside of the office Dr. Halderman enjoys working out, martial arts, cooking, reading, and spending ...