What is Root Canal Treatment?

“I had a sleepless night because my tooth hurt so badly.”

“My painkiller did not help at all.”

“I cannot chew on my left side because my tooth hurts upon contact!”

“My upper right tooth is black!”

If any of these has happened to you, you may have an infected tooth.

Fortunately, pulling out a tooth is no longer the go-to solution. In most cases, root canal treatment (endodontic therapy) offers a way to preserve the natural tooth. During this procedure, the dentist removes damaged and infected pulp tissue from the tooth, ensuring proper oral function. The first step involves assessing the tooth, identifying the problem, and planning the treatment. Dental X-rays and other diagnostic tools help determine the extent of damage.

The second step is cleaning and shaping. During this stage, the dentist removes the damaged pulp tissue from the center of the tooth. The root canals are thoroughly cleaned and shaped to prepare for filling.

At JDental Specialists, root canal treatment is performed by an endodontist (a root canal specialist) using a dental operating microscope (DOM). The DOM provides up to 25x magnification, allowing the endodontist to view any tiny details inside a patient’s tooth. This increased visibility enhances procedural accuracy and leads to better treatment outcomes.

A thorough review at one year is essential to ensure that the treatment has been successful, checks for any signs of infection or complications, and confirms that the tooth is healing properly.

Is root canal treatment painful? No! We use local anesthesia to numb the tooth before the procedure, so it’s a breeze. In fact, some patients find it so relaxing that they drift off into dreamland during treatment. How do we know? Well, let’s just say we’ve got a snoring symphony! 😴😄