In most cases, the access opening in the top of a back tooth or the back suface of a front tooth can be made right through any crown or bridge.  Unless there is decay under the crown or another reason to replace it, your original crown or bridge will be retained and the access opening permanently restored by your dentist.

This office is in compliance with Health Information Privacy Practices, also known as HIPAA. It is  the patient's responsibility to provide our office with pertinent information that may be critical to the care we can offer our patients. Such information includes the following:

1. List of medications you are currently taking;

2. Dental insurance information that enables us to file your insurance claims (name of person insured, name of the insurance company including claims address and phone number, group account number, identification number, social security number and date of birth);

3. Any medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, hepatitis, etc.; and

4. Any allergies to anesthetics, latex, or medications.

In some cases, your general dentist may have provided you with x-rays to bring to our office at your visit. Please be sure to bring those with you to your appointment.

We  take every measure to ensure that your procedure is in no way uncomfortable. If treatment is needed, we will inject an appropriate amount of anesthesia to gently numb a concentrated area of your mouth. For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.

As an endodontic practice, we primarily focus on the inside of the roots. We place permanent filling material in the roots;  however, the chewing surface will have a temporary filling placed inside of it. We encourage you to return to your general dentist within 3 weeks for the permanent restoration and a crown, in most cases, if the tooth does not already have one. Your dentist will determine the type of permanent restorative material that best fits your specific needs.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly "different" from your other teeth for some time after your root canal treatment has been completed. However if you have severe pain or pressure that lasts more than a few days, please call our office. It is normal to feel some tenderness in the area over the next few days as your body undergoes the natural healing process. You may also feel some tenderness in your jaw from keeping it open for an extended period of time. These symptoms are temporary and usually respond well to over-the-counter pain medications.

Only the nerve material from INSIDE the tooth is removed.  There are nerve endings in the ligament that holds the tooth to the bone and in the bone itself.  It is NORMAL to have sensation when tapping or chewing on the tooth after the root canal procedure; this should not be uncomfortable. You will not have any thermal (hot or cold) sensitivity on a tooth with a root canal.

• Do not eat anything until the numbness in your mouth wears off. This will prevent you from biting your cheek, tongue or lip. 
• Do not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist.
• Be sure to brush and floss your tooth as you normally would.
• If the opening in your tooth was restored with a temporary filing material, it  is not unusual for a thin layer to wear off in-between appointments. This does not mean the filing has fallen out and does not require any treatment.

• Contact our office if you develop any of the following:
• • a visible swelling inside or outside of your mouth;
  • an allergic reaction to medication, including rash, hives or itching (nausea is not typically an allergic reaction);
  • a return of original syptoms; or
  • your bite feels uneven.