Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is performed with the goal of saving a tooth that has an infected or diseased root. Inside each tooth is pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth. The pulp runs like a thread down through the root of the tooth. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue eventually dies. If it is not removed, the tooth will become infected, risking an ultimate loss of the tooth.

A patient may require a root canal treatment due to a number of potential reasons. Deep decay, physical trauma/ fracture, old metal fillings and repeated dental procedures on a particular tooth all have the potential to ultimately affect the tooth’s root.

About the Procedure

After the patient receives a local anesthetic, the dentist or endodontist places a rubber dental dam around the tooth receiving treatment. He or she will then cut an opening into the tooth in order to gain access to its nerve or root. Next, the diseased pulp is removed, the root canal(s) cleaned, and then sealed off to ensure protection. Then, in most cases, a dental crown is capped over the tooth to help strengthen it and prevent future damage or fracture.

Most often, root canal therapy is a relatively simple procedure involving little to no discomfort. About 85% of treatment outcomes last a lifetime! Root canal therapy is normally completed in one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth that would otherwise need to eventually be pulled.