GENTLE ROOT CANALS IN LAFAYETTE

If a cavity goes untreated and tooth decay descends into the inner layers of a tooth or severe damage has exposed the pulp, Dr. Gina Liggio Maestri DDS may recommend root canal therapy in an effort to save the structure of the tooth. A tooth is composed of three distinct layers: the outer enamel, the porous dentin, and the inner pulp. Filled with nerves and tasked with keeping the tooth healthy and hydrated, the pulp can become infected and lead to serious health risks, including abscessed gums and further infection of the surrounding oral structures. In addition, infected pulp can cause moderate-to-severe sensitivity and pain that can only be effectively treated by removing the damaged pulp. If you are in a great deal of pain, an emergency root canal may be necessary.

Root canal therapy has such a negative reputation that people often use it as a measure of how bad another situation, like a tax audit or buying a used car, can be. In reality, root canal therapy is a complex but necessary procedure that can save your tooth and will remove the source of often severe tooth pain. Dr. Gina Liggio Maestri DDS uses local anesthesia to numb the affected area and nitrous oxide sedation to help you feel calm. If you feel particularly anxious or fearful of your root canal procedure, Dr. Gina Liggio Maestri can provide oral sedation, a dose of anti-anxiety medication that places nervous patients in a state of profound relaxation. Ideally, practicing careful at-home dental hygiene and regularly visiting the dentist for checkups and cleanings should help you avoid the need for root canal therapy. However, reality often gets in the way of the ideal and should you find yourself in need of a root canal, rest assured that you will be in skilled, caring hands at Dr. Gina Liggio Maestri, DDS.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gina Liggio Maestri DDS, call our office at 337-704-2126. Our Lafayette dentist’s office proudly provides preventive, restorative, and sedation dentistry services to families and individuals in Lafayette, LA, the Acadiana region.