Root Canal Therapy

Root canals are the thin passages that run from the soft inner tissue of your tooth (pulp) to the tip of the root of your tooth. When the soft inner tissue is infected a “root canal,” or pulpectomy may be necessary. Untreated infections will affect the jaw and tissues surrounding the tooth and spread into the tooth’s outer area causing discoloration. Neglected cavities are most likely to cause infection in these canals. These canals contain nerve fibers which are often accompanied by varying amounts of pain if an infection is present.

Root canal procedures help you to avoid costly restorations to replace a tooth lost to decay and infection and also improve the appearance of teeth darkened by infection. Modern-day root canal therapy is usually painless and no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.

Root Canal Procedure

Dr. Levasseur is a general dentist skilled in performing root canal therapy and has the training required for successfully completing most root canal procedures. Dr. Levasseur has been with our practice for over 20 years and enjoys performing endodontic therapy.

Getting a root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. It’s very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of the tooth and your personal circumstances. Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save your natural tooth. There’s no need to be worried if you have been told you need a root canal procedure, millions of teeth are treated and saved this way each year, relieving pain and making teeth healthy again.

Dr. Levasseur will use an instrument called a root canal file along with magnifying equipment to remove the nerve fibers and clean out infected tissue from within the thin canals. Once the inside of the tooth is thoroughly treated a temporary filling may be placed accompanied by medications to soothe the area. The patient will return to our office where Dr. Lewandowski will complete the final restorative planned treatment.

We will schedule you an appointment to return for either a permanent filling or a post-core and crown. In most situations, both the diagnostic exam and the root canal procedures will be accomplished in our office. However, in certain circumstances, an endodontist specialist may be more appropriate and you will be referred to another office for the root canal.