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Plaza Dental Group: 1089 Jordan Creek Pkwy #100, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Root Canal Procedure and How It Affects Dental Health


The root canal of the tooth contains the nerve tissues and blood vessels, also known as the pulp. Root canal therapy or endodontic therapy is designed to cure or remove the infection from the tooth’s root canal by removing the infected nerve and pulp. 

The removal of the infected tooth nerve or pulp does not affect your tooth’s normal functionality as these serve no purpose once the tooth is fully grown, and only acts as a sensory nerve. 

Why a Root Canal Is Needed

The root canal therapy is painless, yet an important treatment to undergo. It protects the tooth from further infection and the possibility of severe tooth decay. Delay in the therapy may cause an abscessed tooth due to the exposure of bacteria and debris and even bone loss around the root tip. However, getting a root canal therapy helps restore your infected tooth and overall oral health. 

Signs to Help You Decide If You Need a Root Canal

Identifying the need for root canal therapy is vital for your oral health. Ignoring these signs might lead to a badly infected or decayed tooth.

  1. Swollen or tender gums
  2. Severe sensitivity to cold or hot objects
  3. Severe pain while chewing
  4. Bad decay of the gums
  5. Cracked tooth

Root Canal Therapy: The Procedure

Once you identify the need for a root canal therapy and consult your dentist or endodontic, an X-ray is taken to analyze the shape and sign of infection in the surrounding bone. Patients are given anesthesia so that the whole process is done at their ease and comfort.

The first step of the therapy is cleaning the root canal: the endodontic or dentist starts by making a small access hole at the tooth’s surface and removes all the decayed tissues and pulp along with the bacteria in small files.

Next, the dentist cleans and decontaminates the hollow and infected part of the tooth through medication. In some cases, the dentists flush away the debris periodically through sodium or hypochlorite. Then, the tooth is filled with a compound into the tooth’s root canal.

In the last step of the therapy, a crown or filling is added to the tooth. Due to the removal of the pulp, the tooth receives its nourishment from surrounding tissues, which in the future may cause the tooth to become weaker, so a crown or filling protects the tooth.

After the crown is placed and complete restoration of the tooth is completed, the patient can use their teeth like before and can easily perform actions like chewing or biting.

Root Canal Completion

However, your tooth may feel sensitive after the completion of a root canal because of inflamed tissues. So your dentist may prescribe you an over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen to ease the discomfort and pain.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

  1. Efficient chewing and biting
  2. Healthy gums and teeth
  3. Maintenance of oral health
  4. Zero pain and inefficiency

Lastly, root canal treatment has a more than 95% success rate, and the teeth fixed with the help of a root canal treatment can last a lifetime. 

If you have an affected tooth and are looking for a root canal procedure to help save it, contact your leading team of dentists in West Des Moines at Plaza Dental Group to get expert root canal treatment.

 

Plaza Dental Group

Plaza Dental Group is a leading group of dentists in Des Moines, IA that provides high-quality dentistry in a comfortable and stress-free environment. We have a team of caring and highly-skilled professionals that uses state-of-the-art technology and delivers excellent service to the patients. Request an appointment today!

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4.7
Based on 413 reviews
Came in for my regular cleaning and X-rays and was so happy to see Bekka again! She brightened up my smile when I asked about my coffee stains and was just as happy as I was💓. I love Plaza Dental and the dentists I’ve had exam and work on my teeth are just as caring, kind and helpful. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.read more
Kathy Marek
Kathy Marek
I am always happy to see my regular Hygienist, Talia and Dentist, Dr.Dietrich. Talia is my most favorite person in Plaza dental group👍💕
Lulu
Lulu
I’ve received excellent, courteous care. Very professional staff who function well as a team. If never had a more pleasant experience at a dental office. Lacey is excellent. I can highly recommend them.
Loren Fligg
Loren Fligg
I have had three different hygienists at this office and they were all wonderful! My doctor left and now I am seeing Dr. Jones and he seems quite knowledgeable. I find him super nice!
Betty Baum-Ferree
Betty Baum-Ferree
Plaza dental has the most wonderful staff in a dental office that I’ve ever experienced!!!From the lovely receptionist who is always smiling and helpful in every way to the doctors and hygienists who are all very caring and dedicated!I highly recommend this office to everyone!
Susan Snyder
Susan Snyder
I have been going to Dr. Dietrich and Talia my hygenist for a few years now and I feel so comfortable with them. Great care and service. I highly recommend them. Thank you. Maria T P
MT Pa
MT Pa
I've had nothing but great service from Plaza Dental and their staff. Dr. Mohan & Dr. Dietrich are both awesome and so friendly. I've had Invisalign and several crowns replaced - all my decision and they have always done a great job. I've gotten to know several of the hygienist and dental assistants and all are great!!Edit - I now see Dr Odland and he’s so genuine & caring. Great experience!read more
Jessie Port
Jessie Port
Been to many dentist and never wanted to go back because they would make you feel terrible about yourself. Have been going to Plaza Dental for quite some time now and Lacey has always done a fantastic job on my teeth. She’s the best! 100% recommend.
Matthew Valadez
Matthew Valadez
Manny and Dr. Jones were exceedingly kind and patient. I've never had a more "non-traumatic" dental experience. They did a fantastic job of really making me feel cared for.
Samara Vega (Squidgy787)
Samara Vega (Squidgy787)
I feel like I need to give some background. I was having a hard time. A hard time for about three years. In that time I stopped taking care of myself. I just didn’t care anymore. But then, I did some work and decided I want toIn the time I was in a “3-year dark place”, I had stripped away the enamel on my two front teeth. It caused my two front teeth to become easily stained. In a very “lady, what’s goin’ on with your teeth” way. Did I mention I’m in a very customer-facing job?Today, Dr. Odland fixed my teeth.I couldn’t be more proud to smile today. I think I smiled so much others couldn’t help but also smile. It was a good feeling.Thanks doc. And my hygienist. I’m so sorry I didn’t remember, your name. (Abigale, maybe? Good lord I’m so sorry I didn’t remember) You were great! I appreciate you!TLDR: if you need a good dentist, you should go here.read more
Briana Carpenter
Briana Carpenter
Beautiful office with great people providing excellent oral healthcare!If you’re thinking about a dental implant, I recommend Dr. Jeremy Flinkman. I had zero pain when he placed the post into the bone. In three month, I go back to be scanned for measurements for the crown. Do not get a bridge - go with an implant.read more
Kerilyn Conrad
Kerilyn Conrad
Things went very well today. It should make getting the bridge done easier. Today was prep for the Bridge. Very easy and quick. Did not have to bite into a mold. Looking forward to finishing the process.
Chris Refsland
Chris Refsland
I had a great experience with my treatment at this place. They are the most trustworthy and clean team. Their hardwork will pay you off with amazing tooth for sure. I highly recommend this place and a must visit for any of your tooth work ! Thank you !
vijay purna
vijay purna
I needed to have a tooth extracted. Dr. Dietrich was amazing. She kept reassuring me during the process, which I really needed. She worked quickly and efficiently and treated me with respect and kindness. Not a fun process but she helped calm me.
Connie Scharlach
Connie Scharlach
I had the pleasure of working with Talia in my first appointment in years. She made me feel heard emotionally and financially while still being quick and efficient. Couldn’t have asked for a better reintroduction to oral health care.
Leana Bishop
Leana Bishop
Jillian repaired my temporary crown. She is extremely pleasant and very sensitive to her patients. She also is very knowledgeable and has excellent skills in performing her dental procedures. Definitely a 5 + staff member and an asset to the Plaza Dental Group team.
Victoria Arndt
Victoria Arndt
I started going to Plaza Dental group when unsatisfied with my previous provider. My experience has been fantastic. After only one visit the staff knew me by name and remembered small details about my life. They also informed of missing sealants my previous dentist had ignored. Since going for my first visit I have had most of them replaced, as well as a Boost Whitening Treatment from Manny. The staff is excellent, and I would recommend them to even those who don’t have cavities or staining. I fell into that category and have still seen improvement in what most people labeled as a perfect smile.read more
Levi Larson
Levi Larson
I had the best experience I have ever had at the dentist before! I had Becca for my cleaning and she was the absolute best. She was so kind and super cheerful and just an extremely fun person to have clean my teeth. While doing my cleaning, Dr. Jones came in to check my teeth and was super welcoming and made me feel more comfortable than ever, given I hadn’t been to a dentist in quite a few years and made me feel so good about my teeth. Overall, I can’t describe into words how absolutely amazing my experience at Plaza was. I will most definitely be back!read more
Spencer Barnes
Spencer Barnes

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1089 Jordan Creek Parkway, Suite 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Opening Hours

  • Mon - Wed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

  • Thursday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sat - Sun Closed

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