FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ROOT CANALS

The root canal is the area inside the tooth's root where the pulp and nerve are located. A root canal does not mean we are removing the tooth — we are only cleaning the root canals and protecting the tooth from further damage.

We perform root canals to relieve tooth pain, not cause it! We will make the procedure as comfortable as possible for you using sedation dentistry and our advanced technology.

Ask our team about our comfort menu during your visit!

While general dentists are qualified to perform a root canal, an Endodontic specialist has an additional two or three years of advanced specialty education focused entirely on root canal therapy. Endodontists perform these procedures daily, so patients can come in for a less painful, faster, and more accurate procedure.

Our team uses the latest technology and stays up to date on the latest techniques, instruments, and materials for root canal therapy. At St. Petersburg Endodontics, our specialists utilize 3D technology in the form of a cone-beam CT scan to evaluate the tooth and examine the pulp chamber. They also use LASER irrigation technology to clean the tooth chamber more accurately.

The LASER uses light energy to create fluid turbulence inside the root canals. The turbulence scrubs the canal walls clean of bacterial debris. It also penetrates, cleans, and disinfects complicated anatomy far better than conventional root canal instrumentation. Cleaner canals mean a higher chance for success and less pain/discomfort after the procedure.

Our high-powered dental microscopes are among our most advanced tools and give our endodontists superior magnification and lighting. The microscopes allow us to see and treat problems that might otherwise be missed, drastically reducing the chances of failure or complications. We use the microscope throughout every procedure to ensure high accuracy and meticulous precision in all our treatments. It is extremely rare for a general dentist to have a microscope in their office.

Pain isn’t the only sign you might need a root canal. If your general dentist finds that the tooth pulp looks infected or damaged, you may need to see an endodontist for further evaluation.

“Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth”. In endodontics, we work inside the tooth structure.

The main objective of a root canal is to save your tooth by eliminating an active infection. If left untreated, this infection could cause bone loss, tooth loss, and inflammation.

Re-treatment is only necessary if the previously treated root canal becomes contaminated again and shows signs of reinfection.

The alternative to a root canal is a tooth extraction. However, extracting a tooth may require replacing it quickly with a bridge or an implant, or the missing tooth will affect your ability to chew and affect your bite. Tooth replacement options typically cost significantly more and require more treatments and appointments than saving your natural tooth.