Endodontic FAQ's

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association involving treatment of the pulp (root canal) and surrounding tissues of the tooth. When you look at your tooth in the mirror, what you see is the crown. The rest of the tooth, the portion hidden beneath the gum line, is called the root. Though the outer portion of the root is a hard tissue called dentin, the inside channel or “root canal” contains a pulp of soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves. Bacteria that are introduced into the pulp as a result of tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth fracture or other problems, can severely damage the pulp. When that happens, an endodontic specialist removes the diseased pulp to save the tooth and prevent further infection and inflammation. After successful endodontic treatment, the tooth continues to perform normally.

If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend root canal treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp (collection of blood vessels and nerves at the center of the tooth). Once you are completely numb, this injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the complexity of treatment required. 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. We use local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort. You will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine.

When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist.  You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion at our office. Your restorative dentist will decide on what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth.  It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, we are available at all times to respond. To prevent further decay, continue to practice good dental hygiene.

The procedure takes about an hour depending on the level of difficulty.

You will not need a driver unless you have taken an oral sedative.

There is no way to predict the level of post-op pain after any procedure, but any post-operative discomfort can typically be handled by over-the-counter anti-inflammatories.

Anything you want, but we recommend softer foods for the first couple of days.

Typically two hours from the time of the injection.

This is due to the difficulty of the procedure. Your Doctor wants you to have the best treatment outcome. Endodontist’s have received extra training to handle difficult root canals.

Yes, we typically finish around 80-85% of our procedures in one visit. Sometimes this is not possible and multiple visits are required to achieve the best possible treatment outcome.