Root Canal Therapy
What Is an Endodontist?
An Endodontist is a dentist who has received a minimum of two years of advanced specialty training in the diagnosis of dental pain and in treating the diseases of the dental pulp and supporting tissues.
What Is Endodontic Therapy?
Endodontic therapy, or root canal therapy, is a treatment that saves a tooth that would otherwise require extraction. It is always better to save your natural tooth, if possible.
Each tooth contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, known as the pulp, that is responsible for the formation of the tooth during development. Although the pulp is important during the development of the tooth, it is not necessary for the function of the tooth. The tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it even after the pulp is removed.
Endodontic therapy is indicated when the pulp inside of the tooth becomes irreversibly damaged. During endodontic therapy, the inflamed or infected pulp is carefully removed. The canal system is then meticulously shaped and sealed and filled. Treatment can often be performed in a single appointment but depends on the condition and complexity of the anatomy of your tooth.
Once endodontic therapy is completed, you must return to your general dentist for a permanent restoration, ideally within two to four weeks following the completion of treatment. Without a permanent restoration in a timely manner, the tooth is at risk of decay or fracture, which may cause the tooth to require extraction.