Yikes! You’ve been told you need a “root canal”! It’s the diagnosis that strikes fear in every heart and is the butt of every dental joke! What is it really?

Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with root canal, or endodontic, treatments and procedures. Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth, and is necessary when the pulp inside the canal becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, faulty crowns, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, trauma to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess. – See more at: American Association of Endodontists

Don’t hesitate to have a “toothache” evaluated as soon as possible! Dr. Mackler and Dr. Siurek have many years of dental experience to enable them to evaluate your symptoms.  Through a variety of testing methods, the tooth in question along with adjacent teeth will be examined.  After the tests are complete, a diagnosis will be given to determine the best treatment, care and prognosis.  They will make you aware of the benefits, options and risks involved in order for you to understand how endodontic treatment can relieve your pain and save your tooth. Possible post-treatment decisions such as a crown on the treated tooth also will be addressed.

If you decide to receive treatment, the procedure may start immediately. Before treatment begins, you will receive local anesthesia to numb any sensations you may feel during the procedure. If the procedure is unable to be completed within one visit, medicine may be placed inside the tooth between appointments.

Once your procedure is complete, more X-rays are taken to track the success of the treatment. You will be provided with post-operation instructions and told what to expect over the next few days. . We are always available if you have any questions. Just ask!