Having a root canal completed is the treatment of choice to save a tooth otherwise it will have to be extracted. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution. However, what is not realized is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth. Root canal treatment is highly successful (often > 90%) and usually lasts a lifetime, although, on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.

Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy

What does root canal therapy involve?

A root canal treatment by our dentists may take one to two appointments depending on the difficulty. If the case is extremely challenging, we will give you a referral to an Endodontist (Root Canal Specialist).

The tooth is ‘put to sleep” or anesthetized, and a rubber barrier is placed to isolate the tooth and keep it free of saliva/debris. An opening is made on top of the tooth, and a series of root canal files (I liken them to “pipe cleaners’) are used to clean the inside of the tooth. Once the tooth is cleaned and sealed a filling will be placed in the tooth. To prevent the tooth from breaking, a crown is recommended after a period of healing has occurred. Aching or sensitivity is common after a root canal, but will only last a couple of days. If pain lasts longer that 2 days please contact us to discuss your condition.