What is a root canal?
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed. It will help you save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges.
The dental pulp, at the center of your tooth, is a collection of blood vessels that help to build the surrounding tooth. Trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures can cause infection of the pulp.
Symptoms identifying the presence of an infection can be seen as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature, or pain in the tooth and gums.
How is a root canal performed?
In case you are experiencing any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp by removing the injured pulp, cleaning thoroughly and sealing the root canal system. Usually local anaesthesia is used in this therapy that may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. 90% is the rate of success for this type of treatment. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, we will inform you at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment. We use local anaesthesia to eliminate discomfort. You will be comfortable to return to your normal routine and able to drive back home after your treatment.
Before Endodontic Therapy
After Endodontic Therapy
ENDODONTIC
THERAPY
What happens after treatment?
After completion of your root canal treatment, we will send a record of your treatment to your restorative dentist. You should contact their office in order to have a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion at our office. The type of restoration necessary to protect your tooth will be decided by your restorative dentist. After routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery it is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications. If a problem does occur, however, we are available at all times to respond. We advise you to practice good dental hygiene to prevent further decay.
How much will it cost?
The cost associated with this procedure can vary depending on factors such as the severity of damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected can influence the cost associated with this procedure causing some variations.
In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth.