Most people associate having a root canal with a lot of pain and discomfort. However, while most people can expect some discomfort during and after a root canal procedure, excessive pain is not normal.

What is a Root Canal? A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.

A crown may supply the finishing touch after a root canal – sealing the tooth and strengthening it for the long term – but a crown isn’t necessary in every case. Teeth at the front of the mouth and those that are reasonably strong, in particular, may not need them at all. Weighing the following…

Now that you know what a root canal is, it’s important to know what to expect during your appointment. During the appointment During the appointment, your dentist will give you deep full local anesthesia, which is a little more than required for a filling because your dentist is removing the nerve. Many x-rays will be taken…

If you’ve been told you need a root canal or are scheduled for one soon, you’re in the right place. This is your guide to everything you should know before getting a root canal.

Today, root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment (“endo” – inside; “odont” – tooth), will save your natural tooth and allow you to keep it functional for decades if not a lifetime. But just as no two people are the same, teeth also vary widely, so that the success of root canal treatment depends…

Q: At a routine examination, my dentist found a hole in my upper front tooth, at the gum line. He told me that it was “root resorption,” and he wasn’t sure if the tooth could be saved. Can you please tell me more? A: For adults, root resorption is an uncommon and troublesome dental condition…

With proper care, you’ll keep teeth that have had root canal treatment for a lifetime but it’s possible for those teeth to heal improperly, becoming painful or diseased months or even years after treatment. If this happens to your treated teeth you have a second chance to save the tooth with retreatment.