Root Canal Therapy

Teeth can be injured or damaged in several different ways. This includes decay, fractures, trauma, severe wear, abscess, etc. Sometimes this may produce an infection or pain affecting the nerve in the tooth so adversely that root canal therapy is indicated.

A root canal is a procedure in which the dentist simply removes the nerves from the canal inside the root of a tooth. Initially, the area is anesthetized and the tooth is isolated with a dental dam. We access the pulp chamber or nerve center of the tooth by making a small hole in the top or back of the tooth. Next, we remove the dead or diseased nerve tissue from the canal inside the root of the tooth and determine the length of the root. After we clean and shape the canal, we fill the canal with sealer and a material called “gutta percha”. This completes the root canal. A restoration is necessary to fill the accessed portion of the tooth. Finally, a crown will need to be done to preserve the integrity of the tooth and provide strength as well as durability.