What is a root canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure designed to save a tooth.  Strictly speaking, the root canal is the space inside the tooth, the tunnels through which the nerves and blood vessels enter.  The actual procedure itself should be called Root Canal Therapy.

When a tooth has suffered harm from decay, injury or extensive dental work, root canal therapy is the dental treatment that can “save the day.”  Thanks to modern technological advancements, root canal therapy does not have the stigma once associated with it.  Today it is the preferred method of treatment and avoids the unnecessary loss of a tooth.

The procedure

You will be given local anesthesia for this procedure. If you are particularly anxious during the visit Dr. Wittenberg can also utilize a sedation technique to help make you feel more at ease.

Dr. Wittenberg will then remove the source of pain and infection from inside the tooth by thoroughly cleaning each root canal space and filling them with a specialized filling material.

The root canal treatment can most often be completed in a single office visit.  Following this procedure it may be necessary for you to have a large restoration or crown placed over the tooth to further strengthen and protect it. 

Once your root canal therapy is finished, you are ready to smile again with a pain free tooth!