Root Canal Therapy
What is a root canal?
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed. Well over 14 million are done every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for dental implants or bridges.
At the center of your tooth is pulp. The pulp is a collection of blood vessels and other tissues that helped build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of an infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling next to the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend root canal 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 in over 90% 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. We use local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort. You will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you should be comfortable returning to your normal routine.
Endodontic Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of endodontic procedures, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to root canal therapy are discussed.
What happens after treatment?
When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration or crown within a few weeks of treatment completion at our office. Your restorative dentist will decide what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth – our report to your dentist will have a recommendation based on the condition of the tooth during root canal treatment. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, please call our office. To prevent further decay after you leave our care, continue to practice good dental hygiene.
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, the difficulty level of treatment and/or which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an implant or bridge; and it preserves your natural tooth and chewing function.