Root Canal Therapy
Why do I need a root canal?
Your toothache is more than just a toothache, and your dentist has recommended a root canal. What now?
Endodontists perform root canals to eliminate the infection to the dental pulp, which is the vital connective tissue in the center of your tooth. When infection, decay, or trauma has caused significant damage to the pulp and/or root of the tooth, an abscess can form that can be very painful and dangerous to your overall health.
Most dental professionals agree that saving natural teeth is the best option when possible, so when we perform a root canal, we’re saving a tooth that would otherwise be extracted. If you avoid treatment for whatever reason, bacteria and inflammation will continue to destroy your tooth and surrounding tissues—even if your symptoms go away.
If fear and anxiety has you wanting to put off root canal therapy, sedation dentistry might be a good fit for you.
So how do root canals work?
In most cases, your root canal will only require one visit to our office. We’ll give you a local anesthetic using an ultra-gentle technique to keep you comfortable. Using state-of-the-art equipment, we locate the precise location of the root end, remove the infected or inflamed pulp and disinfect the canal, and replace it with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha.
We then work with your referring dentist to make sure they are up to speed on the care you received. Your dentist will likely perform a permanent restoration on the affected tooth—such as a filling, onlay, or crown) to improve its structural integrity.
