It's true! Root canals treat painful infections and are usually no more complicated than a filling.

Are you ready for a pain-free comfortable dental experience?

Root Canal in Rockville, MD

What is a root canal?

There is more to our teeth than meets the eye.

When you look in the mirror, you can really only see less than half of your tooth. In fact, human teeth are about an entire inch long, with most of the tooth being hidden under the gums and bone.

Our teeth have multiple parts, including the crown (which we can see in our mouths), the root (which is contained in the gums and bones), the dentin, the enamel, and the pulp. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, which give our teeth sensation. The pulp is soft and fleshy, and is protected by the outer part of the tooth, which is hard. The space in the middle of the tooth where the pulp is located is called the root canal.

Okay, so what is root canal therapy?

The nerves and blood vessels of teeth can get inflamed or infected when cavities get very deep or when our teeth suffer traumatic injury. Inflamed or infected pulp can be extremely painful, and the only way to solve this problem and save the tooth is with root canal therapy.

Diagram of tooth and root structure | root canal rockville, md Root canals involve removing the diseased pulp, cleaning the canal, and placing a filling material and canal sealer. Depending on the severity of the infection, the presence of swelling, or whether or not the patient has a fever, an antibiotic may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading.

Every now and then, you’ll hear someone say something disparaging about root canal therapy, such as, “I’d rather have a root canal than see the Dallas Cowboys win another Super Bowl!” or “A 20-hour flight to New Zealand!? I’d rather have a root canal!” Or maybe you’ve had an experience when you’ve told someone you need root canal therapy and they give you a sympathetic look and say, “Oh no, you poor thing!” as if you’ve just lost your puppy.

The truth is that root canal therapy isn’t nearly as bad as the stereotype makes it seem. In fact, the discomfort that necessitates a root canal is far worse than the treatment itself.

Instead of being talked about as if it were an enhanced interrogation technique, root canal therapy should be praised as a glorious savior! Without root canal therapy, the only way to eliminate the pain and the disease would be to remove the tooth.

Schedule a Root Canal Appointment in Rockville, MD

Dental infections are serious and can spread quickly. If you are experiencing a toothache or swelling and you think you may need root canal therapy, call our dentist office at (301) 963-0800 to schedule an appointment. We are located in the Shady Grove neighborhood of Rockville near North Potomac.

Dental pain can be frustrating, distracting, and very uncomfortable. We look forward to making you feel like you again.

Lower Your Tooth Infection Risks

Through healthy habits, you can lower your risk for a painful tooth root infection. Your Rockville dentist shares a few important tips below.

Good Oral Hygeine

Brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing no less than once can significantly lower infection risks.

See Your Dentist

Twice-yearly dental cleanings rid your smile of the ingredients leading to tooth decay and infections.

Protect Your Smile

Always wear a mouthguard if you play sports and a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth (bruxism).

Frequently Asked Questions

How is root canal therapy performed?

Root Canal Therapy - Step By Step

The first step to most dental procedures is the administration of local anesthetic. It is very important that the patient is nice and numb and relaxed, and dentists have developed techniques for ensuring that the patient doesn’t feel anything painful. After the anesthesia takes effect, a rubber dam is placed over the tooth to isolate the rest of the mouth from the unhealthy tooth and from the disinfectants.

Root canal therapy is performed by accessing the middle of the tooth, where the infected or inflamed nerve and blood vessels are located. This is accomplished by a dentist using a specialized tiny drill, and removing tooth structure and filling material from the surface toward the center of the tooth, where the pulp is located. Then, the diseased nerve and blood vessels in the center of the tooth are removed with special instruments, and the dentist can see where the root canals themselves begin.

What is a root canal?

The root canals are the thin, cylinder-shaped spaces in the center of the roots of the teeth that extend from the tip of the root all the way to the middle of the tooth. These canals provide the pathway for the nerve and blood vessels to provide nutrients to the tooth. The dentist is able to access these canals with specialized files, which remove the diseased pulp as well as the affected tooth structure. The canal is then cleaned with disinfectants and antimicrobial agents and then filled with gutta-percha, a rubbery material that seals the canal from the outside environment.

After the canal is filled and sealed, a filling material must be placed to close up the access hole that was created at the beginning of the procedure. If the tooth that has been root canal treated is a back tooth, we recommend that a crown is placed to prevent the tooth from fracturing, due to the fact that root canal treated teeth are more prone to breaking.

Contact Us

If you believe you are a candidate for root canal therapy, or if you're experiencing intense dental pain, please contact our office in Rockville, MD to schedule your appointment today!

Do I need a root canal?

Does tooth pain always mean a root canal?

We get this question most frequently from patients that schedule emergency appointments because they’ve noticed some tooth pain. In most of these cases, patients don’t end up needing root canal therapy. Root canal therapy is only necessary when the nerve and blood vessels inside teeth are inflamed or infected. In these cases, the pain is often constant and severe, and occurs spontaneously, or even wakes the patient up at night.

Root canals are typically only necessary after a history of problems

In most cases, the nerves and blood vessels (also known as the pulp of a tooth) only get inflamed or infected after there has been a history of problems with the tooth. It is very rare for a tooth that has never had a deep cavity, a large filling, a crown, or trauma to end up needing root canal treatment. The most common cases of teeth that end up needing root canal treatment are the ones that have had cavities that were so deep that they were very close to the pulp, or even into the pulp. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to catch cavities when they are small and to stop them in their tracks before they become painful.

History of trauma to the tooth is also a common reason why root canal treatment may be necessary. If a tooth was fractured and the pulp was exposed, it is likely the pulp will become inflamed and painful. Even in cases in which the tooth does not break, but the root of the tooth is moved off its blood supply, over time the tooth will die because it is
no longer receiving nutrients from the blood. After the pulp dies, bacteria can invade and cause an infection. Sometimes a toothache won’t happen for years after the original incident.

Contact Us

If you're in pain or in need of a root canal, contact our office to schedule your appointment! We'd love to work with you and determine the best plan of action for your current situation.

Does root canal treatment hurt?

This is a common question people ask our dentists, and the answer is no!

Contrary to popular belief, root canal treatment is not painful. Believe it or not, root canals actually relieve pain and preserve your natural tooth. A tooth infection causes the pain that you feel and can significantly impact the quality of your life, keeping you from your normal daily activities.

It's also important to note that a tooth infection won't go away without treatment. It will worsen and can potentially spread to surrounding teeth and even travel to other critical areas of your body, like your brain. So, immediately seeking treatment for a constant and severe toothache is essential.

What Happens During Root Canals in Rockville?

Our dentists use the best anesthetics to numb the compromised tooth during root canal treatment. This immediately relieves your discomfort while ensuring you don't feel anything during your treatment.

Next, they'll gently remove the infected tissue out of your tooth. When they've thoroughly cleaned it out and ensured it's infection-free, the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling and given time to heal.

Once your tooth is healed, we'll rebuild it with a crown or a permanent filling to ensure that you have the same tooth strength and chewing function you had before your tooth became infected.

Contact your Rockville dentist at (301) 963-0800 if you have more questions about root canal treatment.

Meet Our Doctors:

Dr. Thomas B. Gladnick

Dr. Thomas B. Gladnick, originally from Newark, Delaware, graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Biology and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Tommy spent ...

Dr. Elizabeth P. Gladnick

Dr. Elizabeth P. Gladnick was born and raised in Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Temple University in ...

Meet More of our Staff

Featured Blog Posts - Root Canal Therapy

May 6, 2024

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

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 ...

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 & ...

August 14, 2021

Root Canals: What You Need to Know

Close up of patient getting root canal in Rockville MD

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 ...