Root Canal Therapy

An infected tooth can cause pain and swelling and eventually harm your oral health if left untreated.

Root canal therapy is the only way to clear the infection without extracting the tooth.

Our advanced techniques make root canal therapy at Stephens and Gatewood Dentistry in Spring, TX, virtually painless.

What Is a Root Canal Infection?

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Root canal infections occur when bacteria enter the tooth pulp, the nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissues at the center of a tooth. This infection can result from large, untreated cavities, cracks, and other dental trauma. Root canal treatment clears the infected pulp and preserves the tooth structure, restoring your oral health. Root canal therapy is the only way to stop the spread of bacteria and prevent tooth extraction.

Symptoms of a Root Canal Infection

While pain is often what indicates a root canal infection, it is possible to have an infection without any pain. If you suspect a root canal infection, request a free consultation at one of our Spring, TX, offices. Common symptoms include:

A severe toothache

Pain when chewing or when pressure is applied

Sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks

Swelling in the surrounding gums

Sudden, persistent bad taste in your mouth

Dark discoloration of the tooth

Tired of Tooth Pain? Request a Consultation

Don't live with tooth pain; stop it before it gets worse. Tooth pain and other uncomfortable symptoms of a root canal infection are not only distracting but put your oral and overall health at risk. Treating an infected root canal is crucial to stop the spread of infection and prevent an extraction and implant placement.

At Stephens and Gatewood Dentistry, you can relax knowing our dentists offer comprehensive dental care under one roof. While many dental practices need to refer root canal patients out to endodontists, we can perform root canal treatment right in our office. We offer sedation options to help you relax and same-day crowns to quickly restore your treated tooth. If your case requires an extraction we can even place implant-supported crowns to replace missing teeth.

To request a free consultation, contact or call our offices in Spring, TX.

(832) 847-6838

Stop Tooth Pain: Request a Consultation

"I would recommend this office to anyone" 5-Star Reviews From Spring, TX, Patients

I’ve been a patient of Dr.Stephens for 20 years and my hygienist has been Val for the same length of time. These two have kept my teeth and gums and the entire oral cavity healthy. I Would like to add that I have never experienced any pain with any procedure, and I have had many. The office is up to date with the latest equipment and is spotless and up to all standards required by the dental association. I would recommend this office to anyone looking for expert excellent care. The staff are so knowledgeable and are friendly and efficient.

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I awoke with a toothache and called several dentist. No one had any appointments for a week. I called Stephens & Gatewood Dental they got me in the next day. Upon arriving I was greeted genuinely and told to help my self to a snack or a drink. The offices were gorgeous! I didn’t wait long and was taken back to there rooms. They had a tv on the wall and one on the ceiling. The dental assistant was lovely and the dentist was awesome. I will definitely be back.

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Take a Closer Look at Root Canal Treatment

During root canal therapy, your dentist will remove the infected tooth pulp and seal the tooth to prevent bacteria from re-entering the root canals.

Step-by-Step Process of Root Canal Therapy

"Rather than refer patients out to an endodontist, our highly trained dentists in Spring, TX, have the education, experience, and tools to perform root canal treatment from the comfort of our dental office."

Planning With a Consultation

If you notice symptoms that may indicate a root canal infection, join us in our dental practice for a free consultation. Unlike many dentists, we won't need to refer you out to an endodontist for treatment. Our dentists will examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays to diagnose if root canal therapy is necessary.

Relaxing With Sedation Options

At Stephens and Gatewood Dentistry, the root canal treatment process is virtually painless. Our root canals feel similar in sensation to having a tooth filled after a cavity. Your dentist will numb the treatment site with a local anesthetic, and sedation options are available to help you relax during the procedure.

Accessing the Pulp

The first step in root canal therapy is accessing the pulp chamber through the tooth. A small hole will be made in the tooth's crown to access the infected pulp.

Removing the Infected Pulp

Your dentist will remove the pulp using state-of-the-art rotary instruments.

Draining the Abscess

If a dental abscess is present, your dentist will drain it when removing the pulp.

Sterilizing the Root Canals

Once the root canals are cleared, the dentist will sterilize the site to prevent reinfection from lingering bacteria.

Filling the Root Canals

The root canals will be filled with a rubber-like substance called gutta-percha for support.

Capping the Treated Tooth

Though in some cases a filling is sufficient, typically a crown is placed over the tooth to protect the pulp chamber and strengthen the tooth structure. Your dentist may recommend a same-day dental crown or hold off on placing the crown for a few weeks to ensure the site heals properly.

Aftercare Tips

You may experience tenderness following the root canal treatment. Uncomfortable symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter medication. Reach out to our dentists if you have any concerns after root canal therapy.

Better Your Oral Health Today

Repair Your Tooth With a Same-Day Crown

Our dentists use CEREC® technology to create custom-made dental crowns in as little as an hour. Same-day crowns allow our dentists to quickly restore the integrity and function of your natural tooth after root canal therapy. Our CEREC crowns are made from medical-grade porcelain that provides both durability and a life-like appearance. While same-day crowns are a great option for many of our Spring, TX, patients, we also work with a local lab that can custom-craft crowns out of specialty dental materials. These crowns are usually ready for placement within three weeks.

Nervous About Treatment? We Offer Sedation Options

Our dentists use local anesthesia to thoroughly numb the root canal site. We also offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and intravenous (IV) sedation to help calm the nerves that some patients experience when undergoing dental surgeries. Your dentist can discuss which sedation option is right for you during your root canal consultation at one of our Spring, TX, locations.

"Would definitely recommend this jewel!!" More 5-Star Reviews From Spring, TX, Patients

Just moved to the Texas and found this amazing office. They really know how to make a patient feel comfortable. My first visit was great. Megan my dental assistant gave me a tour of their gorgeous office and then went over all the different services they offer. They are definitely a full service office. Met Dr. Gatewood and he was amazingly friendly and I am excited to work with him on getting my teeth in order!! Would definitely recommend this jewel!!

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Stephens & Gatewood Dentistry is an amazing place. I've been seen by more than one dentist and they are all great, along with their staff. However, Dr. Swann was my dentist here recently he is so patient, soft spoken, he listened and understood what I was expressing about my teeth issues. He did an amazing job on all the work I got done, especially my crowns. Thank you.

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Root Canal Therapy

What Is a Root Canal Infection?