Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Therapy (RCT)

Root canal therapy is undertaken when the pulp of a tooth becomes infected. The pulp is tissue found in the hollow of a tooth. It’s filled with blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues.

Infection of the pulp, or pulpitis, causes extreme pain and is treated with a root canal. During root canal therapy, the diseased pulp is removed, the tooth cleaned of the infection and the canal where the pulp was once found is widened and filled. The tooth is then strengthened by placing a dental crown over the treated tooth.

Root Canal Therapy Preserves Structure

Rather than pull a diseased tooth and place an implant, a dentist will try to save the remaining tooth structure by performing root canal therapy. This preserves the original structure of your tooth and gums.

Root canal therapy takes several steps and the patient will probably have to visit their dentist at least twice to ensure successful treatment. Given the advancement in pain control techniques, the procedure should be relatively painless.

The dentist drills a hole in the top of the infected tooth and takes out the diseased pulp. Then, medication is put into the canal and secured with a temporary filling.

During another visit the filling and medication are removed. The dentist takes an x-ray of the tooth to check for any remaining issues. The roots are then filled with gutta percha or other material and the tooth is capped with a crown.

Crowns can be made of many materials, from gold to porcelain. A well made crown can be almost indistinguishable from a real tooth and can be quite beautiful and long lasting. We have the ability to fabricate and place porcelain crowns right in the office during your visit. This removes the need for a temporary crown while an external dental lab makes the final restoration. Our patients love the convenience that this technology has brought our dental practice.