Endodontics

Removing the Pulp

Your dentist begins the procedure by cleaning out the pulp inside your tooth. They do this by using files of various shapes and sizes to fit inside the small structures of your tooth.

Once the pulp is thoroughly cleaned out, the dentist is ready to fill the tooth.

If you have more than one damaged tooth, each tooth is usually treated on a separate day.

Filling the Canal

Your dentist uses a special material called gutta-percha to fill the canal that now has been cleaned out and prepared for the filling.

Next, your dentist places the outer filling. If they need to do more work on your teeth, the outer filling will be a temporary one so the dentist can easily remove it when you come back for later treatments.

However, once the root canal therapy is completed, they will put in a permanent filling.

Dental Crowns

Often, a filling is not enough to provide the support your tooth needs to stay intact after the root canal procedure.

In this case, your dentist may recommend a crown, also called a cap, to cover the tooth completely. This strengthens the tooth so much that it can last a lifetime.

You can choose a tooth-colored crown if the tooth is visible when you smile or open your mouth.

For a back tooth, you might want to choose a metal crown, which is a more economical option.