Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth. When a tooth becomes infected, it usually affects the nerves in the root of the tooth. The infected nerves need to be removed. If left untreated, an infection can turn into an abscess, which is a much more serious problem that can include bone loss in the jaw.

"Root canal" has become a scary term for dental patients to hear, but advances in dental technology have made it much less frightening. Local anesthetics and proper pain medication allow the procedure to be performed with little or no pain in most cases. There may be some soreness following the procedure, but that's normal for most dental procedures. Over-the-counter painkillers are usually enough to relieve any soreness afterward, but  we may prescribe medication.

The procedure will also relieve you of pain caused by the infection, allowing you to enjoy all the foods you love without any pain from heat, cold, or biting too hard.


Procedure

To start, the area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic. We then drill down into the tooth to create an opening into the root canal. After removing infected tissue, we'll carefully clean the canal. Once the infection has been removed, the space will be filled with a sealant called gutta percha. The tooth is now ready for restoration and could require a crown. The entire procedure is usually completed in just two visits.

To watch a short video about the root canal procedure,
click the play button.

Visit Dr. Nadeem Khan at Great Smiles Family Dentistry in Toledo, OH