Your tooth consists of two main parts:  the crown, which is the part of the tooth above the gum and visible in your mouth, and the root or roots, which is that part of the tooth that lies beneath the gum and is surrounded by bone. Inside each root is a channel that runs the length of the tooth. This channel is the root canal and contains the pulp (nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue), which is often referred to as the "nerve" of the tooth.

The pulp may be irreversibly damaged by bacteria associated with decay, very deep restorations, fractures, trauma, or periodontal disease. In order to preserve a tooth in which this has occurred, it is necessary to remove the diseased pulp tissue. This procedure is known as endodontic therapy.

Since endodontic therapy is concerned with removing only the pulp from the root canal, the root will continue to function normally because the supporting tissues remain intact. It is advisable to remove the injured pulp because it may become infected or act as an irritant to the tissues surrounding the tooth.

The prognosis for the overwhelming majority of teeth is favorable. While there is no certainty concerning healing, successful results occur in about 90% of cases. On occasion, the chances of success may fall below this expectancy, or your tooth may not be amenable to endodontic treatment at all. If your tooth falls within one of these latter categories, or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment, extraction may be the only option.

Your comfort throughout all phases of treatment is a major consideration. If a problem arises, day or night, please contact the office in which you were treated.

Post Operative Care
When your root canal therapy has been completed, it is important for you to contact your restorative dentist for a follow-up restoration. This should be done within several weeks of your final visit with our office. Your dentist can best decide what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth.

Infection Control
Our practice exceeds the highest standards of infection control advocated by the American Dental Association, the CDC and OSHA. We utilize the latest barrier techniques and autoclave sterilization to eliminate any risk of cross-contamination. Our priority is to provide state-of-the-art endodontic care while maintaining a strict operating protocol.

X-Rays
X-ray procedures are an essential part of quality endodontic therapy. A major emphasis in our office has been to minimize the already low levels of radiation required. We utilize an advanced dental imaging system called "Computed Dental Radiography". Among the advantages of this process is up to a 90% reduction in patient exposure to radiation and improved image definition.