ROOT CANALS (Endodontic Procedures):

f you have a tooth with extensive decay, a fracture, or if it's been in an accident, the tooth's nerve chamber may become infected. When this happens, the only way to save this tooth is with a special procedure called a root canal. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies.

Symptoms can include pain, constant sensitivity to heat and cold, swelling in the nearby gums, and in the case of an accident, discoloration of the tooth.  You may have heard 'horror stories' from friends about having a root canal; be assured that in our office, advances in dental techniques and pain mitigation have reduced a root canal treatment to something as easy as having a cavity filled, with little to no discomfort.

Tooth Anatomy

There are three primary structures in a tooth:

• The extremely hard outer covering is the enamel.
• The underlying layer is the dentin.
• The soft tissue containing the blood supply and nerve is the pulp.

Treatment

Below is an illustration of how Dr. Roger's is able to access and remove the soft tissue located in the internal space (canals). As he removes the infections, he carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal areas, and them fills and seals the canal space with a permanent endodontist material.

Post-Operative Care After Your Root Canal

The treated tooth may be sensitive for the first few days. This is completely normal. You may be given an antibiotic, depending on the degree of infection, and asked to take pain medications for the first several days.

Please do not chew or bite on the treated tooth with anything hard (hard candy, nuts, ice, etc.) until the tooth has been fully restored with a permanent crown.

If you continue to experience unusual discomfort in the treated area after 7-10 days, please call our office.