Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy provides a means to treat a badly damaged or infected tooth while saving it from extraction. As long as the damage remains above the gum line and does not extend down into the root, a root canal can be done to restore the tooth and keep the root in place in the jaw. The best preventative dentistry practice is to preserve as many natural teeth in the mouth as possible all throughout adulthood.

When needed, a root canal is a simple and virtually painless procedure performed in the office. The area around the tooth is completely numbed before starting. A small hole is made to access the inside of the root. The pulp and nerves are scooped out of the root, the inside dried, and a rubbery compound called gutta-percha is packed inside. Once an adult tooth has emerged, the pulp and nerve inside a root are no longer required for growth. The root will remain alive without them now.

The hole used to remove the insides of the root is sealed with a dental filling, and the top of the tooth is prepared to receive a crown. A temporary crown is placed at the time of the root canal while a permanent crown is manufactured. In approximately two weeks, the permanent crown should be available to replace the temporary crown and be applied with a stronger cement.

Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry is taking new patients in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.