Procedures

Depending on what your general dentist is referring you for, the first visit may be a consultation to determine the best treatment for you. In certain instances, the first visit will be scheduled for an examination as well as treatment.

For a consultation appointment you will be greeted by our friendly staff who will help you fill out our entry forms (medical history as well as consent forms). Then, one of our dental assistants will capture appropriate imaging. This will typically be an X-ray of the tooth in question as well as a CBCT (3D X-ray) that provides our doctors much more information. Then, Dr. Moore or Dr. Lopez will perform a thorough examination to diagnose the problem and determine if root canal treatment is appropriate. In certain instances, root canal therapy is not indicated or there is a better treatment for you and our doctors will explain that and speak with your referring dentist. Once you decide the preferred treatment plan, our staff will schedule your treatment appointment and discuss our financial policies.

At your treatment appointment, Dr. Moore or Dr. Lopez will perform a thorough examination to diagnose the problem and determine if root canal treatment is appropriate. Once that is determined and you elect to move forward with treatment, our doctors will very gently administer anesthetic and get the tooth extremely numb. After our numbing process, there should be no discomfort during treatment. It is typical during treatment to feel vibration or minor pressure, but there should be no sharp or severe pain. Root canal therapy used to be painful many years ago (which is why it has a bad reputation), but modern root canal therapy is pain-free. The patient experience is similar to having a filling placed.

Once root canal therapy is complete, our doctors will seal off the tooth with a temporary restoration. This protects the tooth but you will still need to see your dentist for the final restoration (either a filling or a crown). You should try to avoid heavy biting or chewing 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.

Most of the time after root canal therapy you will have mild soreness/discomfort for 2-3 days. We recommend taking ibuprofen 600mg every 6 hours or 400mg every four hours for the first day. If you are unable to take ibuprofen, Tylenol is recommended. As symptoms decrease you can stop taking the recommended medications. Typically, within the week the discomfort is fully resolved. In 10% of cases patients do develop swelling and discomfort that requires antibiotics. It is not often, but if you have increased pain or any swelling, then you would want to contact our office so that our doctors could prescribe an antibiotic to help with the discomfort. As always, if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact our office, we are happy to help!