Procedures
Root Canal Therapy
What is a root canal?
With over 16 million root canal procedures preformed every year in the US, root canal therapy is one of the most common dental procedures. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges.
At the center of your tooth is the pulp. Pulp is a collection of connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma, deep decay, fractures, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as a visible injury, swelling, sensitivity to temperature, or discomfort in the tooth and gums.
How is a root canal performed?
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend endodontic treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs over 95% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment. You will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine.
What happens after treatment?
When your root canal therapy has been completed, a report of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion at our office. Your restorative dentist will decide on what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, we are here to help you.
How much will it cost?
The cost associated with this procedure can vary depending on factors such as the severity of damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth extraction and replacement with an artificial tooth.