Endodontists are specialists in anesthetizing (numbing) teeth—especially those causing a patient extreme pain. We do not move forward with treatment until we are sure you have been completely anesthetized. At our office, the vast majority of patients experience no discomfort during their Root Canal Therapy.

While many patients experience no discomfort following their procedure, in most cases patients experience slight soreness for 1-2 days following treatment. This discomfort can usually be managed with over-the-counter medications. A small percentage of patients experience pain or swelling following their procedure. This is known as a flare-up. Patients who experience anything more than slight discomfort are asked to contact the office so that their symptoms can be addressed promptly.

Root canal treatment can definitely help to eliminate tooth pain. It cannot, however, protect the structural integrity of your tooth. In many cases, we will recommend that your tooth receive a crown. This restoration helps to protect your tooth and protect against fracture. If the tooth does not receive a crown, it is often at a higher risk of fracturing and needing to be removed. Depending on how the tooth fractures, it may not be salvageable and may need to be removed.

Root canal therapy removes the pulp of the tooth—mainly nerves and blood vessels. After treatment, although the inside of the tooth has been cleaned and sealed, the tooth continues to function as it had previously. You can bite and chew on your tooth, just as before. Far from being dead, the tooth maintains its living connection to the surrounding bone and gums.

If root canal therapy is advised for a tooth and no treatment is pursued, infection can spread from the tooth to the surrounding tissues. Spreading infections can lead to pain and visible swellings either inside or outside of the mouth. In the most severe cases, a spreading infection can put a patient’s life at risk.

There are many alternatives to root canal treatment. The most basic alternative is the removal of the offending tooth, which results in a space being left behind. If the tooth is not replaced with another restoration (implant, bridge, removable denture), you will be unable to chew in the area and could also see your remaining teeth shift into the space that was left behind. Whenever possible, we recommend holding on to your natural teeth. Nothing looks, feels or functions like your natural teeth.

Many root canal treatments can be performed in one visit. However, a second visit may be necessary if the tooth is found to be infected or if the tooth presents with challenging anatomy. The decision to extend treatment over a second visit is made to ensure you have the best possible outcome for your treatment.