Endodontic therapy – often just called “a root canal” – is performed on a tooth that is so severely decayed or infected that it is in danger of being lost. It is also performed on a tooth that will not stop hurting after a restoration has been done. We perform root canal therapy as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia. After gently removing the infected or inflamed pulp, we carefully shape and disinfect the inside of the canal. The canal is then filled and sealed with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. We use state of the art techniques and equipment to complete our procedures.
In most cases, we can do this procedure in two visits. Once it has been completed, the remaining tooth structure may be more brittle than before, therefore you should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until we can provide you with a permanent restoration (crown or onlay).
Saving a tooth with a root canal can save you time and money compared to the alternatives. If you lose your tooth, the gap left behind will need to be addressed with either a dental implant, a bridge or partial dentures.
