Root Canal Treatment
Our goal is to preserve your natural teeth for a lifetime, so you can smile with confidence. If you have been told that a root canal is necessary to save one of your teeth, it is important you understand why this procedure is necessary and what happens during root canal treatment.
Root canal treatment (endodontics) treats disorders of the nerve (also called the pulp) of the tooth. It used to be that a tooth with a diseased or infected nerve had to be removed. In 95 percent of the cases today, however, this is no longer true. We believe in saving teeth (instead of removing them). We make every effort to help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime!
When is Root Canal Treatment Necessary?
If a cavity forms and is allowed to go untreated for too long, it can penetrate to the root pulp where an infection can occur. First, we want to relieve any discomfort you might be experiencing and ensure your comfort throughout the treatment. We carefully remove the diseased pulp. The root canal area inside your teeth is cleaned, enlarged and shaped. Then depending on your individual case, the root canal and pulp chamber may be permanently filled and sealed. A temporary filling is placed in the opening of the tooth until the next visit. At the next appointment we sterilize the inside of the tooth to remove the bacteria. To complete the process, the root canal chamber and pulp chamber are permanently filled and sealed. Finally the tooth is fully restored to chewing function.An information brochure is available at the front desk regarding the root canal treatment. We will make every effort to ensure your comfort during root canal treatment. And we’re happy to answer any questions you may have. Our goal is to help you preserve your natural teeth for a lifetime, so you can smile with confidence!
For more information visit American Dental Association article Getting to the root of endodontic (root canal) treatments.