Root Canal (Endodontic)Therapy

Endodontic Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of endodontic therapy, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to root canals are discussed.

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What is a root canal?

A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, well over 14 million every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for extraction or the loss of a tooth.

At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of neurovascular tissue that helps to build the surrounding tooth during development. Your tooth may require endodontic treatment due to trauma, deep decay, cracks, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms that you may need a root canal include, temperature sensitivity, biting sensitivity, swelling, spontaneous dental pain. Sometimes you may not have any symptoms at all, it is something your dentist may discover during a routine dental x-ray or exam.

If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend root canal (or endodontic) treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy is performed with the use of local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required.Root canal treatment is a highly successful treatment. Very often this success depends upon your return to your general dentist for the placement of a permanent restoration within a month of completed root canal treatment.

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 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, however, we are available at all times to respond. To prevent further decay, 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 and which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth.