Your comfort is of the utmost importance to us. We will take every measure to ensure that your procedure is relaxed and comfortable. Today, with modern technology and better anesthetics, most patients report a pain-free experience and can expect very little post-treatment discomfort.  Knowing what to expect while having a root canal can help ease a lot of anxiety. For those patients who have difficulty getting "numb" or are very apprehensive, Dr. Fisher can provide various sedation options so you have a good experience in our office.

With today’s cutting edge technology, most root canals can be performed in one visit, occasionally requiring two office visits.

Many people believe that having a crown on a tooth means that the tooth will eventually need a root canal.  Crowns do not cause the need for root canal therapy.  If a crowned tooth does require a root canal, it is most often the accumulation of multiple previous insults that overwhelm the pulpal tissues, including deep decay, trauma, or fractures.

When the dentist or endodontist performs a root canal treatment, he or she removes the soft tissue from inside of the tooth.  The roots of the tooth are not removed.

Pregnant women can and do have root canals.  Having a root canal does require a small x-ray, but the radiation exposure is very minimal and the x-ray is aimed at the mouth, not the abdomen area.  If you are pregnant and your dentist needs to give you an x-ray, he will use a lead apron to cover your belly.  The anesthetics that dentists use are also safe for pregnant women.  Be sure to let your dentist know beforehand if you are pregnant.

If you have your tooth properly restored, maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular checkups, your natural tooth can last for the rest of your life.

While a throbbing toothache usually results in the need for root canal treatment, many times a tooth can require root canal treatment when there is no pain present.  Dentists and endodontists are specially trained to test a tooth to see if the pulp has been infected or damaged.  If this is the case, a root canal would be necessary to save the tooth.

Keeping your natural teeth for as long as possible is very important for proper eating and chewing functions.  There are several options available for missing teeth such as dentures, partial dentures, dental implants and fixed dental bridges, however, these alternatives can be much more expensive than saving your tooth with a root canal treatment.

After having a root canal it is extremely important to make a follow-up appointment with your dentist to have the tooth permanently restored.  After the pulp of the tooth has been removed, the tooth is at risk of fracturing.  A permanent restoration will help protect your tooth from fracturing and prevent the root canal space from becoming contaminated with bacteria.