Root Canal Therapy

Modern root canal techniques may save more teeth than any other dental procedure. Advancements over the last thirty years have been remarkable allowing root canals to be done quickly and painlessly with a high level of long-term success.

Dr. Brueggen was one of the first to offer one appointment root canals. Now they are being offered in offices all over the country.

A small hole is made in the top or back of a tooth. All of the nerve tissue is removed and any infection is cleaned away. Then a filling is placed inside the root to seal out further infection and the procedure is complete, usually in thirty minutes to an hour. A crown is normally required to strengthen the tooth after root canal therapy and this can be done at the same appointment. Long term success of this procedure is in the 85 to 95 percent range. This is usually done with local anesthesia and sometimes oral sedation for the apprehensive patient. There is usually no pain during or after the procedure.