1. Consultation

Your visit will begin with a comprehensive examination and consultation.  We will do an oral examination and take diagnostic digital radiographs to determine if a root canal treatment is needed and if there are special treatment considerations in your case.  We will answer any questions you have at this appointment.  It is very important for you to tell us at this consultation appointment if you are apprehensive about treatment.  There are a number of things we can do to insure that your experience is a positive one.  We will then schedule an appointment time for your treatment.

2. Treatment

A local anesthetic is given and a rubber dam is placed to isolate your tooth.  Then an opening is painlessly made through the top of the tooth.  Instruments clean out and shape the inside of the root(s) of your tooth.  Then your tooth is sealed by placing a rubber-type material called gutta percha inside the canals. 

If the tooth has had a previous root canal treatment that is failing, we may be seeing you to retreat the tooth.  Retreatment involves removing the old leaking material, and then replacing it with new gutta percha.

3.  Follow-up Treatment

When your root canal treatment has been completed, it is important for you to contact your general dentist to provide a permanent restoration (usually a crown or filling) for your tooth.

Our office will also want to examine your tooth periodically to see how it is healing.  There is no additional cost for this follow-up with our office.