Donsdale Dental is pleased to offer this common dental procedure which involves removing the damaged or infected nerve inside of the tooth (called the dental pulp), and then cleaning the root to remove any infected tissue that may be causing pain or swelling. A damaged nerve may cause your tooth to die, in which case the nerve must be removed for you to retain your tooth and stave off infection. The first step will be the administration of a local anesthetic to the tooth and surrounding area. All of our root canals are performed with the use of anesthetic to ensure that you remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the entire procedure. Next, a rubber dam is placed around your tooth to keep it free of bacteria from your saliva during the procedure. Next, a hole is created in the tooth to remove the pulp, and then the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Finally, the cleaned canal is filled with a special filling material called gutta-percha, and a filling will be applied to the tooth in order to strengthen and protect it. A crown is highly recommended to prevent future fracture or wear of the treated tooth.
