Gold Dental provides root canal treatment for patients in Petersburg, VA who have a severely infected or damaged tooth. Root canals have an undeserved reputation for being painful — in reality, the procedure relieves the severe pain caused by an infected tooth nerve and saves a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Most patients report that root canal treatment is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling.
A root canal is needed when the pulp inside a tooth — the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels — becomes infected or inflamed. This can happen because of deep decay that has reached the pulp, a cracked or fractured tooth, a broken crown, or repeated dental procedures on the same tooth. Symptoms that may indicate the need for a root canal include severe or throbbing toothache, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, darkening of the tooth, swelling of the nearby gum, or a pimple-like bump on the gum.
During root canal treatment, the infected pulp is removed through a small opening in the top of the tooth. The inside of the tooth is cleaned, shaped, and filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. The tooth is then sealed and a crown is typically placed over it at a follow-up appointment to protect it from future damage.
Root canals are part of the comprehensive Cardinal Care Smiles adult dental benefit, not a benefit limited to front teeth. Coverage depends on the tooth's condition and restorability, the procedure code, and applicable documentation or review requirements. A crown after a root canal has separate coverage criteria. Call 804-732-0056 to discuss the proposed treatment and benefit requirements.
Gold Dental accepts Medicaid. Call 804-732-0056 if you are in tooth pain and to check availability. Located at 9 Holly Hill Dr, Petersburg VA 23805, open Monday 9AM–4:30PM, Thursday 9AM–4:30PM, and Saturday 10AM–4PM.
General benefit information is not a coverage determination. Read official Virginia DMAS dental guidance or call DentaQuest at 1-888-912-3456 for current requirements.