Endodontic Therapy (Root Canal)
Endodontic therapy, also referred to as “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, preventing extraction and the need for dental implants or bridges.
The center of your tooth is a hollow space that begins in the crown and continues along the roots as canals. This hollow space contains the pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels, nerves and other tissue that is responsible for the development of teeth and repair from certain types of tooth damage.
Inflammation and/or infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep cavities, cracks or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of inflammation/infection can be identified as visible injury of the tooth, swelling in the gums, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.
If your tooth is diagnosed with a diseased pulp, your dentist will most likely recommend root canal treatment. Treatment begins with the same local anesthesia that your dentist uses for fillings. Next, an access is made through the top of the tooth. The injured pulp is then removed and the root canal system is disinfected and sealed. Finally, a temporary filling is placed to seal the access that was made into the tooth. Occasionally, a permanent filling may be placed instead of a temporary filling. Most root canal treatments are performed in a single visit but in certain cases, health issues, disease states or complicated anatomy necessitate two visit therapy. After treatment, you will be able to drive home and return to your normal routine.
When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your dentist. You should contact their office as soon as possible to set up an appointment to have the tooth permanently restored with either a filling or a crown (cap). Your dentist will decide which type of restoration is best for your specific tooth. This is an important and critical step, as the permanent restoration will seal the tooth from the bacteria in saliva.
It is normal for teeth undergoing endodontic therapy to be sensitive for 7-10 days after treatment. This is usually controlled with over the counter medications. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment. If a problem does occur, however, be sure to contact our office. To prevent future decay, continue to practice good dental hygiene.
Our office performs a routine follow up exam after all endodontic treatments. This brief appointment is free of charge and is intended to ensure that your tooth is healing properly. You will receive a postcard in the mail 6 months from the date your treatment was completed with instructions to set up an appointment at your convenience.