Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Therapy

A root canal is required when the pulp, which is located in the middle of your tooth, becomes infected due to trauma such as cracks, deep decay, chips etc. When a tooth becomes infected you may notice swelling around the tooth, pain and sensitivity to cold or hot. The pain may be radiating from the tooth or the gums and can range from an ache to extreme pain.

Root canals are a common dental procedure that can save a natural tooth. Without this treatment the patient may need to have the tooth extracted in order to effectively handle the infection. This treatment addresses the diseased pulp and removes it through a non-surgical procedure. Once the pulp has been removed the canal in the tooth is cleaned and then sealed. Local anesthesia is generally used and the treatment can usually be done in one visit. In certain cases, however, more visits may be required.

A root canal procedure can also locate hidden canals or small fractures that were previously undetected during other treatments or on an x-ray. It may also be used to remove any calcium deposits that are showing up in the canal, to treat root surfaces that have been damaged or to handle problems with the bone surrounding the tooth. We use state-of-the-art equipment and digital imaging to perform the procedure comfortably, quickly and successfully.

The success rate of this procedure is approximately 90% and you will be advised at your initial consultation if your tooth is not a candidate for this sort of endodontic treatment. Root canals rarely lead to complications and in the vast majority of cases a tooth can end up being saved.

Once completed, the bone will heal naturally near the root over time. The local anesthesia makes the procedure quite comfortable and most people can get back to their normal activities the following day. Discomfort following the treatment is generally quite mild but the dentist will recommend solutions for pain management for the next few days.

The cost of this treatment varies on a number of different factors including the damage to the tooth and where the tooth it is located. Overall, however, the cost of a root canal is much less when compared to the price of extracting the tooth and then replacing it with either a dental bridge or an dental implant.