Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy

High-Tech Root Canal Therapy

The way root canal therapy is performed today is vastly different than those done a few years ago, not to mention a decade ago. The potential level for quality care has dramatically increased. It is a thing of the past to do root canals in five to six appointments, or by "touch or feel" because we could not see. Root canals can be done without discomfort, faster, and more accurately due to the new technology available.

Non-surgical Root Canal Therapy

Decayed Tooth Root Canal Therapy is a dental procedure, most often performed with local anesthetic, which involves the removal of the nerve inside of the tooth because it has become irreversibly damaged or infected. If the nerve is dead, and the tooth is not tender to touch, we often do the procedure "without" local anesthetic.

The nerve inside the tooth often becomes due to the entry of bacteria into the center most part of the tooth called the dental pulp (nerve). ROOT CANAL is a commonly used term for endodontic therapy or root canal therapy. This procedure involves the removal of the entire nerve system, as well as cleaning, shaping and 3-dimensional filling of the canal system with gutta percha and a dental sealer. The procedure enables you to keep your natural tooth, which is preferable to any type of replacement. Following root canal therapy, you then return to your dentist to have your tooth fully restored.

What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?

Step one:

After the tooth is "numbed", a small opening is made into the pulp chamber. The canals are located and measured, so they can be cleansed and shaped using a series of hand files and engine-driven instruments.

Step two:

The canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha, and geristore core, which is a glass ionomer. The opening is then sealed with sterile cotton pellets and a temporary filling.

Step three:

The tooth is restored by your dentist within a couple of weeks. Most often, a crown is placed in order to protect the tooth and geristore core build-up. Any areas of infection around the roots will begin to heal.

Post-Treatment Instructions

©Copyright 2005- Dental WebSmith, Inc. and Noel P. Fuller, DMD, PA. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.