Non-Surgical Root Canal
What Is A Root Canal?
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 of dental implants or bridges.
At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.
How Is A Root Canal Performed?
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical 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. Success for this type of 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. We use local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort. In addition, we will provide nitrous oxide analgesia if indicated. You will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine.
This tooth was root canal treated and will be crowned at a later date. It presently has a temporary in it on this x-ray
What Happens After Treatment?
After the root canal is successfully completed, Dr. Torrey will place a crown on the tooth . He likes to wait at least two weeks before doing this to ensure the tooth is healing and no longer sore. Occasionally with front upper and lower teeth, a crown is not always needed. That is a clinical decision that Dr. Torrey and you can discuss. Often it is necessary for an endodontically treated tooth to have a ceramic or metal post placed into the canal to aid in holding the crown in place. This is called a post and core build-up. It does not strengthen the tooth, but makes it more difficult for the crown to be dislodged.