Root Canal Treatment

Endodontic Treatment is commonly referred to as Root Canal Treatment (RCT). Inside the tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The pulp is important for the development of the tooth. Once the tooth matures, it can survive without the pulp.

RCT is necessary when the pulp inside the root becomes inflamed or infected from tooth decay, trauma, cracks, or fractures of the tooth. Left untreated, the inflammation or infection could lead into an abscess with pain and/or swelling. Once a tooth becomes infected or inflamed, the treatment options are either tooth extraction or RCT to save it.

Once it’s determined that the patient needs RCT, and the best option is to save the tooth, the Endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp from inside the root(s). After cleaning and shaping the inside of the root(s), the Endodontist then fills the root(s) with Gutta Percha, a rubber-like material, to properly seal the space. Root Canal Treatments are done under local anesthesia.

After completing the Root Canal Treatment, the patient may need to return to the referring dentist’s office at a later date to have a permanent filling or a crown placed over the tooth for protection, restoring the tooth to its full function.

Root Canal-treated teeth can last as long as other natural teeth with proper care. Here at Northgate Endodontics, we specialize in providing Endodontic treatment using the latest technology in a relaxed environment. Root canal treatment is similar to having a routine filling and is usually completed in one or two appointments. The recovery is fast and most patients return to their normal activity the same day or next.