What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?

Root Canal Therapy is a dental procedure, which is performed with local anesthetic. It involves the removal of the nerve inside of the tooth, because it has become irreversibly damaged or infected, due to bacteria called the dental pulp (nerve). Root Canal is a commonly used term for 'Endodontic Therapy or Root Canal Therapy'. The procedure involves the removal of the entire nerve system, as well as cleaning, shaping and 3-dimensional filling of the canal system with a dental sealer. The procedure enables you to keep your natural tooth, which is preferable to any type of replacement.

What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?

1. After your tooth is "numbed", a small opening is made into the pulp chamber. We locate and measure your canals, so they can be cleansed and shaped.

2. The canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and the opening is sealed with sterile cotton pellets and a temporary filling.

3. The tooth is usually restored within a couple of weeks. A crown may be placed over the treated tooth in order to protect it. If the tooth has no sufficient tooth structure to hold the core, we place a post inside. Any areas of infection around the roots will begin to heal.

The number of visits necessary to complete a root canal varies depending upon the degree of infection and the complexity of the procedure. Please call us for more details.