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Overview
About Root Canal Treatment
During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. According to American Association of Endodontists, a root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth.
First of all, there’s no need to be worried if our professional team of dentists at Avalon Dental Center in Cambridge prescribes a root canal procedure to treat a damaged or diseased tooth. Millions of teeth are treated and saved this way each year, relieving pain and making teeth healthy again for your happiness.
Benefits
Advantages of Root canal
Fast Pain Relief
Root canal treatment removes the source of infection, helping relieve pain and sensitivity.
Eliminate Infection
The infected tissue is removed, preventing the infection from spreading to nearby teeth and gums.
Comfortable Recovery
Modern techniques make root canal treatment efficient, comfortable, and easy to recover from.
Maintain Jaw Health
Keeping your natural tooth helps preserve jawbone strength and supports long-term oral health.
Procedure
The Path to a Comfortable, Confident Smile
Contact one of our skilled dentists in Cambridge to set up a free consultation or schedule your appointment ONLINE.
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Adding a crown or filling
We will finish the treatment by placing a permanent crown or a similar type of restoration on the top of the tooth. Until the crown or filling is complete, the patient shouldn’t chew or bite on the tooth. Once there’s a crown or filling’s done, the person can use the tooth as before.
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Oral hygiene
Treatment often takes only one appointment, but depends on your case if there are curved canals, multi-canals or large infections, this could take one or two additional appointments.
It’s important that taking good care of your teeth and gums is a must after a root canal. You might need to schedule an additional visit with us to twice-yearly dental cleanings and exams.
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Cleaning the root canal
Using a needle, our dentist administers local anesthesia to numb the tooth. It's common to feel a bit of a pinch in the area when the needle goes in. After the tooth is numb, our professional dentist cleans the root canal. First, the dentist removes everything that is inside the root canal and makes a small access hole on the surface of the tooth, then removes the diseased and dead pulp tissue with very small files. Our dentist might also put an antimicrobial solution in the chamber to kill any remaining bacteria and reduce the risk for further infection.
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Filling the root canal
Once the chamber is thoroughly cleaned and dried, our dentist will fill it. The tooth is filled with a rubber-like material, using an adhesive cement to seal the canals completely. The dentist will close the opening in your tooth with a temporary filling, while you wait for the permanent crown.
After our root canal therapy the patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth because the nerve tissue has been removed and the infection has been eliminated.
What Patients Want to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Many teeth that undergo root canal treatment require a dental crown to restore strength and protect against future fractures. We'll discuss whether a crown is recommended for your specific tooth.
With proper care, a root canal-treated tooth can last for many years and often a lifetime. Good oral hygiene and regular dental visits are essential for long-term success.
Delaying treatment can allow the infection to spread, increase pain, damage surrounding bone, and potentially lead to tooth loss. Early treatment is usually simpler and more predictable.
No. Once the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected, the infection typically will not go away without professional treatment. Root canal therapy is often necessary to eliminate the infection and save the tooth.
Many dental insurance plans provide coverage for root canal treatment. Our team can help verify your benefits and explain your coverage before treatment begins.
Yes. The purpose of root canal treatment is to remove infected tissue, disinfect the inside of the tooth, and prevent bacteria from causing future infections.
In most cases, yes. Root canal treatment removes the source of infection and inflammation, helping relieve pain and restore comfort.
Avalon Dental Center provides root canal treatment for patients in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Watertown, Belmont, Arlington, and surrounding Massachusetts communities.
The first step is scheduling an exam. Our team will evaluate your tooth, take any necessary X-rays, and determine whether root canal treatment is the best option to relieve pain and save your smile.
If the infection or damage has reached the nerve inside your tooth, a root canal is often the best way to save the tooth and avoid extraction. During your exam, we'll discuss all available treatment options and recommend the most appropriate solution.
Common signs include:
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Severe tooth pain
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Sensitivity to hot or cold
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Swollen gums
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Tooth discoloration
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Pain when chewing
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A pimple-like bump on the gums
Not all infected teeth cause symptoms, which is why regular dental exams are important.
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Modern root canal treatment is much more comfortable than most people expect. With local anesthesia and advanced techniques, many patients say getting a root canal feels similar to receiving a filling.
During a root canal, the infected or damaged pulp inside the tooth is removed, the root canals are cleaned and disinfected, and the tooth is sealed to prevent future infection. In many cases, a dental crown is placed afterward to protect the tooth.
The cost depends on which tooth is being treated and your insurance coverage. During your consultation, we'll provide a detailed treatment plan and discuss payment and financing options.
Yes. Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate infection while preserving your natural tooth. Saving your natural tooth is often the healthiest long-term option whenever possible.
In most cases, saving a natural tooth with a root canal is preferable to extraction. Removing a tooth can lead to additional treatments such as dental implants, bridges, or dentures to replace the missing tooth.
Most root canals can be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the complexity of the tooth and the severity of the infection.
Most patients return to work, school, or normal activities the same day or the following day. Mild soreness is normal and usually resolves within a few days.
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Relieve Tooth Pain and Save Your Natural Smile
Don't let tooth pain disrupt your life. Our gentle root canal treatment removes infection, relieves discomfort, and helps preserve your natural tooth for years to come.
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