General Information

We take every measure to ensure your procedure is in no way uncomfortable or painful.   If treatment is needed, we will inject a small amount of anesthesia to gently numb a concentrated area of your mouth.  For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.

For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions carefully.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.

Because of the unique nature of our practice and the specialized kinds of cases we treat, it is not possible for us to accept insurance in lieu of payment.  We will, however, provide you with all the information required by your insurance carrier so that you may obtain any reimbursements due to you.

The doctor uses root canal treatment to find the cause and then treat problems of the tooth's soft core (the dental pulp).  Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment has given dentists a safe way of saving teeth.

The pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue.  It lies within the tooth and extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.

When the pulp is diseased or injured and cannot repair itself, it dies.  The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity.  Both of these problems can let germs (bacteria) enter the pulp. Germs can cause an infection inside the tooth.  Left without treatment, pus builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a "pus-pocket" called an abscess.   An abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth.

When the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result.  Certain byproducts of the infection can injure your jaw bones and promote bone loss.  Without treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.

Most teeth can be treated.  Occasionally, a tooth can’t be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored.  However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost.  When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.

Treatment can involve from one to three visits, but the majority of the time only one visit to the office is necessary. 

Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:

1. First, the doctor will administer topical and local anaesthetic to the area around the tooth.  Root canals can be pain free!  We want to make sure there is no sensation in the area to be worked on before treatment is started. 
2. After numbing, a dental dam is placed to isolate the tooth. This isolation from the rest of the mouth permits a clean and dry working field for the doctor, as well as enabling treatment of the appropriate tooth without contamination from saliva.
3. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
4. The pulp is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
5. Medications are put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help get rid of germs and prevent infection.
6. After drying, the pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed with a thermoplastic rubber (gutta percha).
7. The doctor then seals off the crown of the tooth with a resin to create a barrier between the rest of the mouth and the inside of the tooth that underwent treatment. 
8. In the final step, the patient usually returns to the family dentist for the permanent restoration, which is often a crown.  Dr. Duggan will send a complete report of the procedure, as well as pre- and post-operative Xrays and photos to your your general dentist.  This assures that your dentist is well informed of the treatment you received with us.

You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.

Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure or endodontic surgery can often save the tooth.

Yes, for most root canal treatments, we recommend that patients return to the office 1 year after the procedure was finished.  Our office will send a reminder notice to you when you are due for a recall appointment.