Non Surgical Root Canal

A root canal is one of the most common and successful dental procedures, and is performed to repair and save your natural tooth. At the center of your tooth is the pulp—a collection of blood vessels that helps nourish the tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma, deep decay, cracks, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury, swelling of the surrounding tissues (abscess), severe sensitivity to temperature or chewing, or pain in the tooth and gums.  If left untreated, it can cause harm not only to your dental health, but overall health.

How Is A Root Canal Performed?

If you experience any of these symptoms, Dr. Dina will most likely recommend root canal therapy to eliminate the diseased pulp. Your dentist or endodontist–a dentist who specializes in the nerves of the teeth–will remove the injured tissue and thoroughly clean and seal the root canal system. This therapy requires only local anesthesia and is completed in one to three visits. Success for this type of treatment occurs in about 90% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment.

Once complete, the exterior access hole created to reach the pulp is filled with a tooth-colored composite. Removing the nerve and blood supply to a tooth makes it more brittle and prone to fracture. Thus, if your tooth has a large filling or extensive decay, is injured, or is a posterior tooth used for chewing, it will need a crown after the root canal is completed.