Root Canal Therapy

More Comfortable Than Ever

It’s a phrase no one wants to hear, but root canal therapy is sometimes the only way to save a tooth; the only alternative is pulling the tooth or extraction.

Dr. Hochberg and Dr. Friedman want to do their best to help you keep your teeth. If a tooth has deep decay, if it has fractured or cracked or if it has been damaged, it is vulnerable to infection and abscess.

When the nerve of a tooth becomes abscessed or infected, the only way to save it is through root canal therapy.

What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?

To help ease any anxiety you may have over root canal therapy, we’d like to present a step-by-step guide so you know exactly what will happen.

Fortunately, innovative technology and relaxation techniques are more advanced than ever, making root canal therapies very comfortable. Please note that on occasion some root canals can be done in one session. However there may be instances where it will take more than one session and span over a few weeks to allow for healing.

• First, the tooth is "numbed," just as if it were being restored with a filling.
• The dentist then removes the unhealthy nerve.
• Any infection is removed and medication is placed inside the tooth to treat any remaining bacteria.
• A temporary filling is placed on the tooth.
• The canals are allowed to heal for a couple weeks.
• Once healed, the temporary filling is removed and a crown is placed over the tooth to protect it.

A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy is very weak and must have a crown to restore it to strength and protect it against fracture.

Following the root canal, you care for the tooth just the same way you care for your other teeth. Brush and floss daily, and visit us for regular dental check-ups and cleanings

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