What is Root Canal Surgery?

Inside the canals of your teeth is pulp tissue, which is made up of nerve fibers, veins, arteries, and connective tissue. When this pulp tissue becomes infected it causes pain and toothache, and can further damage the tooth if it is not removed. During root canal surgery, or endodontic therapy, this pulp is removed and the canal is filled with gutta percha, a flexible plastic material.

How It's Done

Root canal treatment begins by your dentist numbing the area around the tooth to be treated. A hole is then drilled to the pulp area through the top or back of the tooth, and the canal is measured with an x-ray or electronic imaging to determine how much filling material will be necessary. The diseased pulp is removed, and the empty canal is cleaned out and filled.

After the procedure is completed, a temporary filling or cap is placed over the tooth. After a few weeks, if the tooth shows no signs of infection, the temporary filling is removed and the tooth is capped with a permanent crown.

Technology

All of the instruments and imaging machines used to perform this procedure are tools that dentists have used for years for many different procedures.

Recovery / Post Op Expectations

Because the area around the tooth is numb, patients usually experience no pain during the root canal. Afterwards, however, pain and soreness lingers for two or three days.

Patients usually feel comfortable returning to work the day after the procedure.

Complications

In rare cases, canals can become infected after treatment or tissue is pushed through the ends of the roots. Though these occurrences are painful, they are easily treated.

Am I A Candidate?

Root canal patients usually suffer tooth pain that is caused by an infected tooth and severe pulp damaged that is usually caused by an untreated cavity. If you have any tooth pain you should visit your dentist for a consultation.

Costs

The root canal itself costs $400-$600 for a front tooth and $500-$800 for a molar. The crown placed on top of the tooth is an additional charge, which can cost between $650 and $1,200.