ROOT CANALS – ENDODONTICS

When the nerve (pulp and blood supply) of a tooth becomes infected or inflamed, a root canal treatment may be the only way to treat the tooth, the only other option being extraction. At Dentistry of South Florida we understand that you may have anxiety about the procedure, but we want to assure you that it will be comfortable for you. Treatment, in fact, is the most comfortable option, because an infected tooth will never heal on its own. The unpleasant consequences of an infection in a tooth’s pulp only get worse and more painful with time.

Because your comfort is important to us, we make sure that your mouth is thoroughly numb before we begin root canal therapy. Root canal therapy is the removal of the tooth’s pulp, a small, threadlike tissue in the center of the tooth. Once the diseased or damaged pulp is removed, the remaining tooth must be restored. Sometimes it is necessary for us to build up the tooth with a post and core. The post adds much-needed retention for the core material. It is cemented down inside one of the root canals.

Once the root canal procedure is complete, we’ll schedule one or more follow-up appointments to restore the tooth. Depending on your individual needs, we may use any number of techniques to restore the tooth, the most common of which involves the placing of a crown. When and if the time comes, we will discuss which treatment option best suites your needs. Today, root canal treatment saves many teeth that would otherwise be lost. If you have any questions about root canal therapy, please contact our office. We will be happy to assist.