Root Canals

Root Canal Treatment, or Endodontics, is a way of treating an infected tooth. Inside a healthy tooth is a canal space filled with tissue called the pulp. People often refer to this as the “nerve” of the tooth. There are a number of reasons this pulpal tissue can die out or “abscess”. The most common reasons are deep decay, deep fillings (from decay), and trauma. There are times when an abscess will form accompanied by pain and swelling. At other times the tooth becomes non-vital over such a long period of time that there may be no apparent symptoms. A root canal treats the abscess allowing you to keep your tooth instead of having it removed.

Procedure:

• The tooth is numbed the same way as for a routine filling.
• A small opening is made in the biting surface of the tooth to allow for removal of infected or dead dental pulp.
• The canal space of each root is comprehensively cleaned, shaped, and disinfected.
• A biocompatible filling material is placed into the canal space, sealing it completely to the tip of each root.

A permanent restoration is then placed. Depending on the tooth, that restoration might be a filling, or it might be a crown. Should you need Root Canal Treatment we will discuss a recommendation for your permanent restoration prior to beginning treatment.