Rocky Hill CT Root Canals | Cromwell Infected Tooth Treatment

We Can Stop the Pain Inside Your Tooth

Joyful young man showing nice teeth in his smile standing in front of an office building.

Tooth pain doesn’t have to mean tooth loss. At West Hill Family Dental, we specialize in endodontic treatment — more commonly known as root canal therapy — to help patients in Rocky Hill and surrounding areas preserve their natural teeth and avoid unnecessary extractions. Led by Dr. Robert J. Hemphill, DMD, our practice delivers trusted, hospital-trained expertise with a level of personal care that has made us a long-standing favorite in the local dental community.

Dr. Hemphill is not only a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s dental program, but he also completed a residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, giving him advanced hospital-based clinical experience. With a Master’s in Health Administration and over 20 years of hands-on practice, Dr. Hemphill combines modern dental science with a sincere commitment to patient comfort and transparency. We’ve helped thousands of individuals across Rocky Hill, Newington, Cromwell, Berlin, and Wethersfield manage dental emergencies and chronic pain — all while keeping their natural smiles intact.

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What Is Endodontic Treatment?

Endodontics is the dental specialty focused on the health of your tooth’s pulp — the soft tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. When this pulp becomes infected due to decay, injury, or trauma, you may experience pain, sensitivity, or swelling. A root canal procedure removes the infection, disinfects the tooth, and seals it to prevent further issues — all while avoiding extraction.

Our patients often come to us thinking a root canal means pain. In reality, it’s the solution to pain — and at West Hill Family Dental, it’s performed with minimal discomfort and maximum precision.

Common Symptoms That May Indicate a Need for a Root Canal:

Persistent or severe toothache
Sensitivity to hot or cold, especially when lingering
Swelling or tenderness in nearby gums
Tooth discoloration or darkening
Presence of a bump or abscess near the affected tooth

Our Root Canal Process

: Dr. Hemphill starts the process by administering a local anesthesia to the tooth and surrounding area making sure it’s completely numb before starting the procedure. After the tooth and surrounding area are fully numb, a dental dam is applied. A dental dam is a thin sheet of rubber that covers the infected tooth. This allows Dr. Hemphill to concentrate on the specific tooth and also provides a sterile environment to reduce the risk of re-infecting the tooth from bacteria in the mouth.
: Dr. Hemphill will need to gain access into the infected tooth’s nerve space. He will use a dental drill to make a hole that extends through the surface of your tooth into its pulp chamber. It’s through this opening that he will perform the procedure. With back teeth, the access cavity is made directly through the tooth’s chewing surface. The access opening is made on the tongue side with front teeth. When creating the access cavity, Dr. Hemphill will also remove all tooth decay, and any loose or fragile portions of the tooth.
: The next step involves the cleaning and shaping of the interior of your tooth. Cleaning removes nerve tissue (live and dead), as well as bacteria, toxins, and other debris harbored inside the tooth. Shaping is the process where the tooth’s canals are enlarged so they have a shape that’s ideal for the procedure’s final step – filling and sealing. Dr. Hemphill takes great care and attention to only remove as much internal tooth structure as necessary. Tools called files that look like straight pins are used to clean and shape the sides of the canal. Dr. Hemphill may use up to six different file sizes until the canal is perfect. During the filing process, the canal will be irrigated making sure to flush out and carry away any debris.
: The success of a root canal depends on the elimination of micro-organisms from the root canal system to prevent reinfection. As mentioned, during the cleaning and shaping, Dr. Hemphill will also be irrigating the tooth. The tooth is not irrigated with water. It’s vital to use a solution that will clean and disinfect the tooth to avoid any possibility of leaving any bacteria present in the sensitive interior of the tooth. Dr. Hemphill uses the best solution in endodontics called QMix™. This solution is the most effective and is less inflammatory than other solutions available.
: The final step of the root canal process is filling and sealing the tooth. This is called, obturation. Once the interior tooth has been thoroughly cleansed and properly shaped, it’s ready to be sealed. In some cases, Dr. Hemphill may want to place the filling material immediately after he’s finished cleaning the tooth. In some instances, he may feel it is best to wait about a week before filling it. If he thinks it’s best to wait, he will place a temporary filling in your tooth to keep contaminants out until your next visit. When he fills the tooth he will use a root canal filling material called gutta percha. It’s a rubber compound that is shaped like a cone. The size of the cone exactly matches the dimensions of the root canal files used in the cleaning and shaping phase. In order to create a solid, uniform mass inside the canal a sealer (a thin paste) is applied to the gutta percha cone before it’s placed into the canal.
: After filling and sealing your tooth, Dr. Hemphill will place a filling which seals off the access cavity created at the beginning of the procedure. Your root canal is complete, but you may need to return and get a permanent restoration.

What Sets West Hill Family Dental Apart?

Yale-Trained Expertise: Few area practices offer hospital-trained root canal care backed by two decades of real-world experience.
Continuity of Care: You’ll see the same trusted dentist throughout your treatment — not a rotating provider or off-site specialist.
All-in-One Convenience: We handle diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up right here in Rocky Hill, so there’s no need to travel elsewhere.
Multilingual, Inclusive Team: Communication matters. Our staff speaks English, Spanish, and Polish, helping patients feel understood and supported.
Community-Focused Care: Rated one of the top practices in the area, we’re proud to be part of the fabric of Rocky Hill, serving generations of families with consistent, compassionate dental care.

FAQs – Root Canal Therapy in Rocky Hill, CT

: No. With modern anesthesia and techniques, the procedure feels similar to getting a dental filling. Most patients are surprised at how comfortable the experience is.
: The sooner, the better. Infections can spread quickly and may jeopardize your overall oral health. We offer same-day appointments for urgent cases.
: With proper restoration and regular care, many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime.
: Most back teeth and many front teeth benefit from crowns after root canal therapy to restore strength and prevent future fractures. We’ll discuss your best options based on the location and condition of your tooth.
: Yes. Our pediatric and family-friendly approach ensures that younger patients receive gentle, effective care tailored to their needs.

Endodontics

What Is Endodontic Treatment?

Common Symptoms That May Indicate a Need for a Root Canal:

Our Root Canal Process

What Sets West Hill Family Dental Apart?

FAQs – Root Canal Therapy in Rocky Hill, CT

What Our Patients Say

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