Root Canal Treatment in South Tacoma: Save Your Natural Tooth
Root Canal Benefits:
- Save your tooth: Avoid extraction and tooth replacement
- Eliminate pain: Remove infected nerve tissue causing discomfort
- Modern comfort: Advanced anesthesia makes treatment painless
- High success rate: Over 95% of treated teeth last many years
- Preserve function: Keep your natural tooth for chewing
- Serving: South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM families
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment (endodontic therapy) is a procedure that removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth. Each tooth contains a pulp chamber housing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When this pulp becomes infected due to deep decay, cracks, or trauma, it causes severe pain and can form abscesses.
During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist removes the infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the inner tooth chambers and canals, then seals the space to prevent reinfection. This process eliminates infection while preserving the tooth's outer structure. According to the American Dental Association, root canal therapy is one of the most effective treatments for saving damaged teeth.
After root canal treatment, teeth are typically restored with dental crowns to protect the brittle tooth structure and restore full function.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
- Severe Toothache: Persistent, throbbing pain—especially when biting or lying down—often signals pulp infection and won’t resolve on its own.
- Lingering Sensitivity: Pain from hot or cold that lasts minutes (not seconds) may indicate nerve damage.
- Swelling or Tenderness: Swollen gums, facial swelling, or a pimple-like bump can mean the infection is spreading.
- Tooth Discoloration: A gray or dark tooth may signal pulp death, which can become infected without treatment.
- Cracks or Chips: Deep cracks or chips can expose the pulp, allowing bacteria to cause infection.
- Not all infections cause pain right away—many are found during routine exams and X-rays. Tooth pain? Get relief—call now.
The Root Canal Process
After Your Root Canal
Long-Term Oral Health: Implants stimulate bone and support surrounding teeth to help keep your bite aligned and protect your whole mouth's health.
Natural-Looking Results: Every restoration is customized to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. Whether replacing one tooth or many, the result looks and feels like you.
Preserved Facial Structure: Implants help maintain facial shape and structure, preventing the sunken appearance that can occur with tooth loss.
Enhanced Comfort: No rubbing, no slipping, no adhesives—just a secure, stable fit whether you're eating, talking or laughing.
Root Canal vs. Extraction
While tooth extraction is simpler and less expensive initially, keeping your natural tooth is almost always better when possible. Natural teeth maintain jawbone density, preventing the bone loss that occurs after extraction. They provide better chewing function than artificial replacements.
Extraction also creates gaps requiring tooth replacement with implants, bridges, or dentures—all more expensive and complex than root canal treatment plus crown. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maintaining natural teeth as long as possible supports better oral and overall health.
Common Root Canal Myths
Myth: Root Canals Are Painful
Truth: Modern anesthesia makes root canal treatment no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. Most patients report feeling relief rather than pain, as treatment eliminates the infection causing toothache.
Myth: It's Better to Just Pull the Tooth
Truth: Saving your natural tooth is almost always preferable. Extraction creates problems requiring tooth replacement, which costs more and involves more procedures than root canal treatment.
Myth: Root Canals Cause Illness
Truth: This myth originated from poorly designed research over a century ago. Modern science has thoroughly debunked it. Root canal treatment is safe and eliminates infection, improving health rather than harming it.
Myth: Root Canals Require Many Appointments
Truth: Most root canals are completed in 1-2 appointments. Simple cases with one or two canals often finish in a single visit. Complex cases may require a second appointment.
Related Services
Family Dentistry - Comprehensive dental care including emergency treatment for tooth infections requiring root canals.
Dental Crowns - Most teeth need crown protection after root canal treatment to prevent fractures.
Dental Fillings - Catching cavities early with regular checkups means simple fillings can prevent root canal needs.
Dental Cleanings & Exams - Regular preventive care detects problems early before they become root canal situations.
Save Your Infected Tooth
Don't let tooth infection lead to extraction. Save your natural tooth with comfortable, modern root canal treatment at Davis Dental Group in South Tacoma. Our experienced dentists provide effective endodontic therapy eliminating pain and preserving your smile. Schedule your consultation to discuss whether root canal treatment is right for your situation.
Serving South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM military families with comprehensive endodontic care.
Schedule Your Root Canal Treatment
Call for Emergency Tooth Pain Relief
United Concordia and most major insurance accepted. Comfortable root canal treatment with advanced technology.
Why Choose Davis Dental Group for Root Canal Treatment in Tacoma?
- Advanced 3D Scanning Technology: Precise imaging for accurate implant planning and placement. Better planning means better results.
- Walk-Ins Welcome: Stop by our Tacoma office anytime for consultations—no appointment needed.
- Same-Day Consultations: We offer same-day appointments when available, so you don't have to wait.
- Free Consultations: Get expert guidance with no obligation. We'll evaluate your situation and discuss your options.
- Comprehensive Care in One Location: From consultation to implant placement to final restoration, everything happens right here. No referrals to multiple specialists.
- Experienced Team: Our dental professionals have extensive experience in implant dentistry and prioritize your comfort throughout treatment.