For the vast majority of patients, nothing will feel or look as good as your natural tooth. If a tooth develops a cavity or fracture that injures the nerve, endodontic treatment is a safe, painless, and effective treatment to make the tooth healthy and functional for many years to come. The use of the dental microscope, enhanced endodontic imaging (the cone beam CBCT) and enhanced irrigation techniques (the dental laser) have led to improvements in the diagnosis and higher treatment outcomes for root canal treatment. Often, saving your natural tooth is faster and less expensive than replacing the tooth with an implant or a bridge.
The American Association of Endodontists has information for patients on their website regarding “Treatment Options for the Diseased Tooth.”
Unfortunately, not every tooth can be treated effectively with root canal treatment. During your endodontic consult, Dr. Russo will review all of your treatment options with you before deciding on which treatment can be performed. If you have any questions, you should see an endodontist to learn more about all of your options to save your natural tooth before choosing to have it extracted.
If you have more questions about the safety of root canal treatment, please see the AAE’s website regarding “Myths About Root Canals.”