With over 14 million procedures a year, root canals are one of the most common dental procedures. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges.
A collection of blood vessels at the center of your tooth, Pulp helps 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. If the pulp gets infected, you’ll notice symptoms like visible injury, swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your dentist immediately. Your dentist will 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 to eliminate discomfort 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 will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you should have little trouble returning to your normal routine.