Endodontic Therapy

Root canal treatment is necessary when the nerve of a tooth becomes inflamed or diseased. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed. Causes of inflammation and disease can include deep decay, a cracked tooth, trauma, or having multiple restorations needed over time. During root canal treatment, Dr. McCrea removes the diseased nerve tissue then the root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed.

A common question concerning root canal treatment is, "Will this hurt?" The answer is "No, the local anesthesia we have available today works quite well and usually profound anesthesia can be obtained." If something should be uncomfortable, please let us know so we can make changes to get you comfortable.

If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth can last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. 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. Most root canals can be accomplished in one visit using local anesthetic or local anesthetic and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). The laughing gas helps the time pass because these visits tend to be longer. For our apprehensive patients we can do oral sedation (a combination of a sedative pill and nitrous oxide). For the very very apprehensive patient, we work with an endodontist (root canal specialist) that can use IV sedation similar to the oral surgeon.

If you have any questions about root canal treatment we’d be happy to answer them.