About Root Canal Therapy in Columbus
Root canal therapy is a common dental treatment in the United States and is a safe and effective procedure that can be completed for you right here in Columbus, Ohio. When a severe infection inside a tooth requires root canal treatment, that procedure is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth, and save the natural tooth.
The root canal specialists at Central Ohio Endodontics are the right local choice for the job in Columbus. Our expert endodontists are ready to put their decades of compassionate care experience to work for the best root canal treatment to relieve pain. Contact our Worthington, Dublin, or Westerville offices today to schedule your root canal treatment in Columbus. If you are a referring doctor, please complete our online referral form.
What is a root canal?
Root canal therapy is a common dental procedure that can save a patient’s natural tooth and maximize its esthetics and function. The inside of a tooth is filled with pulp, a collection of nerves and blood vessels, and a root canal relieves infection in the pulp.
Several different situations can lead to the need for a root canal, but it typically starts when the inner portion of the tooth becomes exposed through a crack, chip, decay, or after a patient has undergone repeated dental procedures. Some of the common symptoms of an infected tooth are swelling around the affected area, thermal sensitivity, and pain in the tooth or surrounding gum.
The root canal treatment itself is relatively simple and is successful in about 95% of cases. Our Columbus root canal specialists administer local anesthesia as needed to provide you with the most comfortable experience possible. Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation services are available.
Once the area is anesthetized, the endodontist places a dental dam to provide a disinfected environment and then removes the infected pulp inside the tooth. A thorough cleaning and sealing of the inside of the tooth prevents further infections from developing in the future. After the tooth is clean, your endodontist will insert a temporary filling, and you’ll be ready to start the recovery process. A typical root canal only takes about 1-1.5 hrs to complete. That includes the exam, local anesthesia administration, and post-operation discussion.
Healthy Tooth
Tooth Anatomy
Inflammation
Cleaned Canals
Filling Placed
Healed Tooth
What happens after treatment?
After your treatment is complete, your endodontist will work with you to create the best post-operative plan for your affected tooth’s longevity. Our office will send a record of your treatment to your general dentist, and you should contact their office for a follow-up permanent restoration within six weeks of your treatment with us. Your general dentist will develop a plan for permanently restoring your tooth.
Potential complications with root canal treatment are minimal but are possible. If you have a problem with your tooth before meeting with your general dentist, please call us, and we will be happy to address the issue.
The cost of a root canal in Columbus depends on the tooth, the type of treatment necessary, whether a Cone Beam CT (CBCT) is needed, and the amount that insurance will cover.
The outlined estimate of the specifically tailored treatment plan for each patient will be conveyed to you before the appointment.
Endodontic Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of endodontic therapy, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to root canals are discussed.
Debunking Myths About Root Canals
There are many misconceptions surrounding root canal (endodontic) treatment and whether patients experience root canal pain. The American Association of Endodontists wants you to have accurate information.
The Truth? Root canal treatment doesn’t cause pain, it relieves it.
The perception of painful root canals began decades ago, but with modern technologies and anesthetics, root canal treatment today is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed. In fact, a recent survey showed that patients who have experienced root canal treatment are six times more likely to describe it as “painless” than patients who have not had root canal treatment. A toothache can be caused by damaged tissues in the tooth; root canal treatment removes this damaged tissue from the tooth, thereby relieving the pain you feel.
The Truth? A 1920s doctor spread this misinformed belief.
Patients searching the Internet for information on root canals may find sites claiming that teeth receiving root canal treatment contribute to the occurrence of illness and disease in the body. This false claim is based on long-debunked and poorly designed research performed nearly a century ago by Dr. Weston A. Price, at a time before medicine understood the causes of many diseases. In the 1920s, Dr. Price advocated tooth extraction—the most traumatic dental procedure—over endodontic treatment. This resulted in a frightening era of tooth extraction both for the treatment of systemic disease and as a prophylactic measure against future illness. As recently as 2013, research published in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, found that patients with multiple endodontic treatments had a 45 percent reduced risk of cancer.
The Truth? Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is the very best option.
Nothing can completely replace your natural tooth. An artificial tooth can sometimes cause you to avoid certain foods. Keeping your own teeth is important so that you can continue to enjoy the wide variety of foods necessary to maintain the proper nutrient balance in your diet.
Placement of a bridge or an implant will require significantly more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to adjacent teeth and supporting tissues. If your dentist recommends extraction, ask whether root canal treatment is an option.
Endodontic treatment, along with appropriate restoration, is a cost-effective and highly successful way to treat teeth with damaged pulp and is usually less expensive than extraction and placement of a bridge or an implant. Many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime.
Call Today to Get Started on Your Root Canal in Columbus
Central Ohio Endodontics has three convenient locations to provide the best root canal therapy in Columbus. Whether it’s for you, a loved one, or a patient, Central Ohio Endodontics is here to provide you with the efficient and effective root canal therapy you deserve. Contact our Westerville, Dublin, or Worthington office today to schedule your appointment with one of our root canal specialists.