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Root Canal Therapy

A root canal is a restorative dental procedure that relieves pain and gives an infected or abscessed tooth a second chance. Modern root canals are comfortable and efficient and really no different from any other dental procedure.

Root Canal Therapy

Deep inside your tooth, underneath enamel and dentin, is an area called the pulp chamber. This part of the tooth contains tissue and nerves that keep the tooth healthy, but pulp can become infected if bacteria enter the area through a fracture, deep decay, or trauma.

The most obvious sign of an infected tooth is a severe toothache, and the only solution to relieve the pain is to remove the infected pulp with root canal treatment.

What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

Your comfort is our priority, so the first step is to administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth to ensure that you feel no pain during the procedure. Once the anesthetic takes hold, and we are sure the tooth is numb, our dentist creates an opening in the tooth to access the pulp area. We then carefully remove every trace of infected pulp, disinfect the area and fill the area to prevent reinfection.

We allow the tooth to heal for about two weeks, then have you return to our office so we can take an x-ray and ensure the infection is gone. The final step is to place a tooth filling or a dental crown on the tooth to strengthen and protect it so you can chew comfortably again.

Do I Need a Root Canal?

If you have been experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, call our office immediately. You may have a tooth infection that requires immediate treatment.

Severe pain in one or more teeth
Pain when touching the tooth
Pain and sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Darkening of one or more teeth
A raised bump on the gums
A bad taste in your mouth
Swelling and tenderness in the gums that may radiate to the cheek

Call our office to make an appointment to see if you need root canal therapy, so we can get you out of pain and save the tooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during a root canal?

Understanding the process can often remove a great deal of the fear surrounding dental procedures. During a root canal, the goals of treatment are to stop the infection, prevent further damage, and relieve your pain.

We begin by making sure that you are numb and comfortable. The next step is to open your tooth. We then use special instruments to carefully and thoroughly clean out the infection from your tooth and remove the infected or damaged nerve. If necessary, we may place an antibiotic treatment to prevent re-infection.

The cavity in your tooth will be filled and sealed, and a crown may be placed. You may experience some soreness following the procedure as part of your body’s natural reaction to any type of perceived injury, but this will quickly fade and you will feel much better.

How should I care for my tooth after a root canal?

Root canals are not surgical procedures, and the recovery time is about the same as a tooth filling. Most people even say the procedure affects them less than a tooth filling! When you have a root canal, your endodontist specialist will clean and seal the tooth to remove any infection.

Root canal treatment takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the severity of your infection and the accessibility of your tooth’s canals. You should be able to drive or return to work right after your appointment.

Your endodontist will give you specific instructions for allowing your tooth to heal, but here are some general guidelines:

Once the numbness wears off, you may feel some soreness or tenderness for a few days. Some people have a sore jaw after keeping it open for an extended period. Use over-the-counter pain reliever (like ibuprofen) to manage pain. If your endodontist prescribes a stronger medication, be sure to have someone drive you home or wait to take it until you’re home.
You can eat after the numbness wears off, avoiding sticky or crunchy foods. If you have a temporary dental crown, it’s especially important to be careful about hard foods.
Continue to brush and floss your teeth normally, though you may want to use care around the tender areas.
Return to your dentist for your permanent restoration, if instructed to do so.

Why do I need a root canal?

Learning that you need a root canal doesn’t seem like good news to most people. But catching a problem inside your tooth means it will get the treatment it needs, ending your pain and preserving the tooth. An endodontist specialist performs root canals to save infected, damaged, or diseased teeth.

Your teeth have several layers - the outer enamel, the hard dentin underneath, and the inner pulp, which contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. If damage, infection, or inflammation penetrates the inner pulp, the tooth is at risk.

An endodontist specialist may perform a root canal in these situations:

Deep tooth decay
Fractures, large chips, or cracks
Disease or infection in the inner pulp

Signs that you might need a root canal include tooth pain when biting down, sensitivity to hot and cold, tooth darkening, tenderness or swelling in the gums, or a pimple-like bump on your gums.

In the root canal procedure, the endodontist removes the infected tooth pulp and seals the area. A dental crown protects the tooth and completes the restoration.

If you’re concerned about a tooth, call your dentist or endodontist specialist right away for a dental exam. Root canals are highly successful, common procedures that can put an end to your pain or sensitivity and restore your tooth.

Will my root canal hurt?

The techniques used to perform root canals have advanced considerably, making this routine procedure no more uncomfortable or inconvenient than a filling. Many people who need a root canal are currently in pain, and a root canal will relieve your pain and save your tooth. After your procedure, you may experience some swelling and discomfort, but this will go away quickly.

Why is a root canal necessary?

When the interior of your tooth is infected, it can cause a lot of pain and is likely to damage the nerve. If left untreated, the infection could spread to other teeth. Root canal therapy removes the infection and relieves the pain, restoring the tooth and allowing us to save it.