One-Visit Root Canals
Dr. Joel Benk and his highly-trained staff have performed hundreds of root canals and extractions and do everything possible to make the procedures as fast and comfortable as possible. From controlled injections to motorized rotary instruments, our root canals are fast and comfortable.
Because Dr. Benk has his own in-house lab, he can create custom crowns in just one visit! This means the crown that will be installed as part of the root canal will be done in the same visit, so you won’t have to make multiple visits to our office.
And that means fewer injections, less time in the dental chair, and more time for you to attend to the thing that matter to you most.
Click here to learn more about One-Visit Crowns.
Call 404-602-0424 or click here to schedule an appointment online.
Our Root Canal procedure
Before recommending a root canal, we collect a thorough dental history of the patient and perform an examination including digital x-rays. This aids in the accurate diagnosis of any tooth that may need a root canal.
Our root canals are fast and comfortable thanks to the use of motorized rotary instruments and local anesthetic. We use motorized rotary files to perform root canals in one visit, often in less than hour. Traditionally root canals are done using a hand file, which has the possibility of breaking inside the tooth. With the motorized rotary tool, root canals are fast and more comfortable than old-fashioned drilling. Then Dr. Benk will make a custom crown for the tooth while you wait and install it that same day.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a procedure that is done to save a tooth that is badly damaged or infected. The pulp, or living part of the tooth, is made up of nerves and blood vessels. It is contained in the pulp chamber, a space inside center of the tooth, which holds the pulp and extends into roots. It becomes infected or dies for a number of reasons:
- Decay — bacteria causing tooth decay infects the pulp.
- Trauma — a traumatic injury can cause an inflammation of the pulp.
- Deep fillings — fillings that have to be placed close to the pulp chamber because of tooth decay or tooth fracture.
- Unexplained — sometimes the pulp can become inflamed and can die for no apparent reason.
During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed from the "canal" inside of the root, which is then cleaned, filled and sealed.
What are the symptoms of a tooth that needs a root canal?
- Moderate to severe lingering toothache, which may be throbbing, when having hot or cold foods.
- Toothache pain so intense it wakes you up at night.
- Pain when chewing or biting.
- Swelling on your gum which when pressed may release blood or pus.
- Pain that starts in one tooth and spreads to other regions of the jaw or head e.g. an infected lower molar (back tooth) may cause you to feel pain in the ear!
Sometimes, however, there may be no symptoms.
Testimonial
"Twenty years ago while in college our school nurse gave me a card for Dr. Benk’s office. I have been a patient of his ever since. I really like Dr. Benk and wouldn’t trust anyone else with my teeth.
"In my very first appointment with him I found out I had to have my wisdom teeth pulled. Dr. Benk made me comfortable with the process. Whatever I need done he has made me feel comfortable and it is never as bad as I imagined it would be. A few years ago I had to have a root canal. I had heard horror stories about root canals but it didn’t hurt at all and Dr. Benk did it really quickly, in just one visit. I went home and waited for the pain when the anesthesia wore off but there was none.
"Dr. Benk has worked with me to create a beautiful smile. He oversaw my orthodontics; did the crown for an implant I needed, replaced my metal fillings with porcelain and put a veneer on an ugly tooth. Now I always get compliments on my smile."
Taunya Lowe
Click here to read more patient testimonials.
