Root Canal Therapy

Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile! Full Answer

A root canal usually involves one or more visits to the dentist. Before treatment begins, your tooth will be numbed for comfort. Then the dentist will put a thin sheet of latex rubber over your tooth to keep the tooth dry. An opening is made... Full Answer

Root canal treatments involve exposing the inside of the tooth. Sometimes when a tooth is opened for root canal treatment, bacteria might be triggered to grow and spread because of the oxygen in the air. This can ultimately cause inflammation, pressure,... Full Answer

A root canal can save your teeth and your smile. There should be no noticeable change. If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime.  Full Answer

The best way to prevent a root canal is to prevent decay or stress on the tooth.  Twice daily brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste  and flossing daily are your best preventive strategies.  Also, tooth grinding and clenching can cause... Full Answer

Although there are alternatives to root canals, they are much more drastic. The most common - and oldest - alternative way of dealing with a decaying tooth is removal. This has the obvious disadvantage of leaving a gap in the teeth in addition to being... Full Answer

Your restored tooth after root canal therapy could last a lifetime, if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it, your... Full Answer

Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort. By undergoing a root canal, you are "saving" your tooth. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the... Full Answer

A root canal treatment generally involves the removal and replacement of a tooth’s pulp. The pulp is soft tissue containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove... Full Answer

After the infected or decaying pulp has been cleared from inside a tooth during a root canal, the opening at the top of the tooth needs to be covered to prevent further infections. The cleared out portion of the tooth is filled with a special inert... Full Answer