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What Is the Difference Between a Root Canal and a Filling?

May 6, 2024
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root canals rockville | tooth pain

If the canal of your tooth is infected, you may need root canal therapy. The canal is the pulp and nerve center of your tooth. Infections can result from tooth injury, lack of dental care, and even untreated cavities.

Your tooth requires a dental filling if you have an area of decay.

Occasionally, untreated tooth decay can reach the canal, requiring root canal therapy instead of a tooth-colored filling.

Signs You Need a Root Canal in Rockville, MD

Typically, you’ll have a toothache or increasing tooth sensitivity if you have a tooth root infection. You may also experience jaw swelling, tooth discoloration, and a blister on the gum. Tooth root infections are dental emergencies requiring immediate attention to save the tooth and prevent the spreading of infection.

Signs You Need Cavity Treatment

You may not have signs of tooth decay until the cavity is advanced. Areas of decay typically start small and are not always visible when you smile in the mirror. Occasionally, you may notice a dark spot on the tooth, about the size of a pinprick, but cavities can develop behind teeth and in hard-to-see locations. Regular checkups help us find tooth decay early.

Lower Your Risks with Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry with your Rockville, MD, dentist is your best defense against oral infections and cavities. This means visiting us every six months for checkups and teeth cleanings.

dentist rockville | dental cleaningsImplementing an excellent oral care routine between checkups and cleanings would be best.

  • Brush your teeth after eating or at least twice daily.
  • Floss your teeth after eating or at least once daily.
  • Talk to your dentist if you notice changes to your oral health.

Are You Looking for a Top Dentist in Rockville, MD?

To arrange your next dental visit or if you have questions for our team, call us today.

If you have a toothache, your emergency dentist near Shady Grove urges you to call us as soon as possible for an assessment.

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April 19, 2022
How Long Do Root Canals Take?
Man holding face in pain from root canal infection in Rockville, MD

Are you currently experiencing any pain in your teeth? Maybe you’ve noticed a few unwanted changes in your oral health and want to keep things in check. Depending on the type of pain and associated symptoms, you may need a root canal treatment to save a tooth.

At Gladnick Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Rockville, MD, we do everything we can to preserve our patients’ smiles and get them back in the swing of their everyday lives as soon as possible!

How Do I Know I Need a Root Canal Treatment?

In many cases, patients in need of a root canal treatment may experience some of the following ...

August 14, 2021
Root Canals: What You Need to Know
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Dental technology has progressed since the old days when the public regarded a root canal with a sense of dread. With so much lore about the procedure entrenched in our culture, Drs. Thomas and Elizabeth Gladnick in Rockville, MD, are happy to dispel those myths and express a singular truth. In short, root canals save teeth. They are the 4th and goal in football, and your dentists are the coaches who ‘go for it,’ rescuing success from the jaws of failure.

So, to truly appreciate what a root canal actually is, you first must understand the anatomy of your tooth.

Your Tooth is Like a Living ...

February 14, 2020
3 Ways to Feel Calmer During a Root Canal
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Despite root canals being safe, routine dental procedures, root canal treatment can feel stressful for many people.

The most common reason our patients report being scared of having a root canal is because they’re afraid the root canal will hurt. In reality, most patients who need root canals are already in excruciating pain due to a dental infection within the tooth. 

Root canals actually help eliminate pain rather than causing it. Still, these “root canal jitters” are widespread. 

If you need a root canal in Rockville, MD but are worried about the treatment, there are a few things you can do in the dental chair to help ...

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