Endodontics is concerned with the study and treatment of the dental pulp, including endodontic therapy (commonly known as “root canal therapy”), surgery, and the treatment of cracked teeth and dental trauma.
About Root Canal Therapy
A root canal is one of the most common endodontic procedures. If the dental pulp, which contains the nerves, arterioles, venules, lymphatic tissue, and fibrous tissue at the centre of the tooth becomes diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.
Successful root canal treatment prevents the loss of the tooth by treating the infection before it causes health complications.
Why not remove the damaged tooth instead?
One way to treat an infection of the tooth pulp is by removing the tooth and disinfect the area. However, if root canal therapy is an option, it's always better to save the tooth.
Removing the tooth creates a gap in the teeth, which could cause the surrounding teeth to shift. For this reason, missing teeth must be replaced, usually with a dental bridge or dental implants, which are much more costly than a root canal would be.
What happens during a root canal?
The dentist will begin by applying a local anesthesia and isolating the area with a rubber dam. Then he will drill an opening in the tooth to access the infected pulp, remove it and clean the area.
He will then fill the root space with a filling material, and finally seal the surface of the tooth with a crown to prevent further infection and restore the function and appearance of the tooth.
Root canal therapy is typically done in a single appointment at our office.
A second visit may be required to complete the crown restoration.
Endodontic Specialists For Surrey Patients
When specialized care is required, we refer patients to DMD Endodontics & Microsurgery in Langley and Surrey for root canal therapy and advanced endodontic treatment.