Root Canal Therapy
Clean, disinfect and seal an infected tooth so you can keep it. Most treatments finish in one visit.
When the nerve inside a tooth becomes inflamed or infected, a root canal lets you keep the tooth instead of losing it. Dr. Fitzgibbons removes the damaged tissue, disinfects the inside of the tooth, and seals it so bacteria cannot return.
Step by step
- Find the right tooth. Careful testing and imaging confirm exactly which tooth is the source of the pain.
- Numb the area. Targeted local anesthetic keeps you comfortable for the whole visit.
- Clean and shape. The damaged tissue is removed and the canals are disinfected.
- Seal. The cleaned space is filled with a biocompatible material.
- Close the tooth. A filling closes the access opening. Your general dentist will often add a crown afterward for long-term strength.
Why save the tooth
- Relief. Removing the source of the pain usually brings quick improvement, and most patients feel back to normal within a week.
- Your own tooth stays. Keeping the natural tooth protects your bite and chewing.
- Usually one visit. Most root canals here are finished in a single appointment, and published research puts their success rate above 95 percent.
- Often the better value. Saving a tooth frequently costs less than an extraction followed by a bone graft and implant. Dr. Fitzgibbons will talk through the options for your tooth.