The once dreaded Root Canal has now become a kinder, gentler procedure. With improved technology and advanced skills, most  endodontic therapy procedures, or Root Canals, can be performed quickly, painlessly and in most cases in one visit.

Root Canal Treatment

If your tooth's nerve chamber becomes infected by decay, root canal treatment is often the only way to save your tooth.

Inside your tooth's hard outer shell is a nourishing pulp of blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. The root canals, which contain the pulp, extend to the bone. Deep tooth decay, a crack, or an injury, can cause serious damage and infection to the pulp's nerves and vessels. Root canal, or endodontic, treatment cleans out the infected pulp chamber and repairs the damage.

Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:

• Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting.

• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.

• Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone.

The Procedure

The material used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime, but eventually the filling or crown may need to be replaced.