Non Surgical (Conventional) Root Canal Therapy

What is root canal therapy?

A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, well over 14 million every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for dental implants or bridges.

At the center of your tooth is the pulp. The pulp is a collection of blood vessels that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Irreversible inflammation and infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the diseased pulp can be identified as visible swelling, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.

When the tooth's pulp is damaged, the only alternative to endodontic treatment is extraction of the tooth. To restore chewing function and to prevent adjacent teeth from shifting, the extracted tooth must be replaced with an implant or bridge. This requires surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth and can be far more costly and time consuming than endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth.

How is a root canal performed?

If you experience symptoms associated with a degenerating, diseased, or infected pulp, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical endodontic treatment. 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. 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. You will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine that same day.

What happens after treatment?

When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record and radiograph of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration within two 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, however, we are available at all times to respond. To prevent further decay, continue to practice good dental hygiene and keep scheduled appointments with your dentist.