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Root Canals

At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels and nerves that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature, pain in the tooth and gums, or just a discolored dark tooth.

We will diagnose your condition using digital x-rays and a pulp vitality tester. Once Dr. Thakur determines that a root canal treatment is necessary to save the tooth, antibiotics and painkillers are prescribed if necessary prior to root canal treatment. Local anesthetic is given to eliminate pain during treatment. The injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned, filled, and sealed. Once your root canal is complete, your body’s natural healing process will finish the job. We will allow a couple of weeks for the infection to clear completely before placing a permanent restoration – either a crown or a filling depending on the tooth.

Root canal treated teeth become brittle compared to vital teeth. These root canal treated teeth, especially premolars and molars that are used for chewing, can break or fracture very easily. After a root canal procedure these teeth will sometimes need post build up and crowns.