Procedures
Non Surgical Root Canal
What is a root canal?
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, with well over 14 million done every year. This treatment can save your natural tooth and prevent the need of dental implants or other prosthetic replacements.
At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels, nerves and fibrous tissue that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Inflammation or infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks, chips, or repeated dental procedures. Signs and symptoms to look for include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch or chewing, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling or drainage in the gums. Sometimes, however, there may be no clinical symptoms.
How is a root canal performed?
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical (conventional) root canal treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. We can provide nitrous oxide analgesia if requested ahead of time. Success for conventional treatment occurs in about 90% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after 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 we are available to respond. After treatment, continue to practice good dental hygiene.