The goal of endodontic therapy (or root canal therapy) is to eliminate the diseased pulp that is threatening your tooth. This is accomplished through a set of procedures that clean, shape, and decontaminate the hollows of your tooth’s interior.

The root canal process can be broken down as follows:

Before treatment begins, a small piece of soft rubber is placed over your tooth. This serves to keep the working area clean, dry, and isolated from the rest of the mouth. Held in place by a metal clamp and frame, rubber dams prove quite useful during procedures where endodontists (and other dentists) want to avoid saliva contamination. When saliva builds up under the dam, a dental assistant can easily suction it away.

After the rubber dam is placed in the mouth, Dr. Lepore will prepare a small opening through the surface of your infected tooth in order to access the pulp chamber. A locally-applied anesthesia will help keep you comfortable during this procedure. Most patients experience little to no discomfort during the work; however, if a patient has put off treatment for too long, the treatment process could be more complex.  It is always best to seek treatment early.

Once an access opening has been created, Dr. Lepore will use a series of tiny tooth files to clean out the inflamed pulp from your tooth’s root canal chamber. These files are also used to re-shape the inside of your tooth, clearing the way for the filling material that will be inserted at the end of the procedure. Dr. Lepore uses an endodontic microscope in order to identify every canal in your tooth interior and ensure that nothing is left contaminated.

The final step for the endodontist is filling the newly-cleaned root canal with a material called gutta-percha. This material protects the pulp chamber and produces a tight seal that blocks any further infection from reaching the tooth’s roots.

A temporary filling will be placed following the Root Canal process. Your general dentist will then need to restore the tooth with a final crown. This must be accomplished within two weeks of your root canal.

If you live in the Finger Lakes or Rochester, New York area and have further questions about endodontic retreatment, or would like to schedule an initial consultation, please contact endodontist Dr. John Lepore today at his Fairport or Canandaigua, New York offices. Advanced Endodontic Solutions Saving Smiles with advanced technology and care.