Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. If the infected pulp is not removed through root canal treatment, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.
Causes of an infected pulp could include:
- • A deep cavity
- • Repeated dental procedures
- • A cracked or broken tooth
- • Injury to the tooth (even if there’s not a visible crack or chip)
For more details on this service visit ADA’s 
WHY ROOT CANAL THERAPY?
- > If your tooth is infected
- > You have a very deep cavity or filling that needs to be replaced
- > A broken or cracked tooth
- > Oftentimes the tooth that needs a root canal will be painful or sensitive but that is not always the case
What to expect during the procedure:
Your dentist will begin by administering local anesthesia (numbing medicine). When performing root canal procedures it is extremely important that the tooth stay clean and dry. To do this your dentist will place a rubber dam—a thin sheet of plastic that isolates the tooth (s)he is working on and reduces contamination with saliva. During root canal treatment, we will remove the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. In some cases medicine will need to be placed inside the tooth and allowed to sit for a week or more before the procedure can be completed. While this medicine is working the tooth will have a temporary filling on it to protect it.
When your root canal is completed your tooth will need a crown. The crown is just as important as the root canal to keep the tooth safe and protected. Root canal treated teeth become dry and brittle and can fracture easily if they do not have crowns placed on them so be sure to return in a timely manner for crown placement.
If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.
