Diseased or injured teeth can often be preserved through a procedure called a root canal, or endodontic therapy. When a patient needs a root canal, it means that the pulp (which is a soft tissue inside a canal in the center of the tooth) needs to be replaced.

In a tooth, the pulp extends down through the root canal. When the pulp is diseased or damaged through injury, bacteria can find its way into the canal and cause the pulp to die. Dead pulp causes pressure to build up inside of the tooth, and can cause incredible pain at the root tip if endodontic therapy is not performed.

Symptoms

There are several symptoms of a root canal. These things should signal an appointment with your dentist:
-Severe toothache
-Pain while eating or chewing
-Sensitivity to temperatures (either hot or cold)
- Tooth discoloration
-Swelling of neighboring gums

Procedure

To begin, the dentist provides an anesthetic for the tooth and creates an opening in the crown to the pulp chamber. For the treatment, the diseased or damaged pulp is taken out and the dentist will clean and enlarge the canals, which are then filled with a replacement and sealed. Often, a crown might be needed to further restore and protect the tooth.

New Image Dentistry uses the most effective and advanced techniques in order to perform a root canal in just one appointment. These techniques ensure that with the anesthetic, there is no pain during the procedure, and very little discomfort after the completion of the root canal.