Non Surgical Root Canal

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a very common dental procedure that can save your natural teeth and help relieve pain.  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. You probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine immediately following the procedure.

What happens after treatment?

Once your root canal therapy has been completed, a permanent follow-up restoration should be done within a few weeks of root canal completion. This restoration is typically a crown, but Dr. Foss will ultimately decide what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth.  Failure to have the follow-up restoration completed in the recommended time can result in failure of the root canal and potentially even loss of the tooth.