Root canal therapy is a root canal procedure. The professional term is endodontic therapy. In this procedure, infected or inflamed tissues inside an unhealthy tooth are removed to prevent further complications for a patient. For example, a root canal prevents an abscess from occurring. As a result, the tooth is saved, and it will be able to survive without the tissue inside it because the tooth will be nourished by surrounding, healthier tissues instead.

Root canal therapy really is therapeutic for the tooth, as it allows it to survive and thrive for many more years. Sometimes it’s necessary to get the procedure.

It’s necessary to get a root canal in certain situations. Inside your teeth is a kind of soft tissue that can become inflamed or infected if a tooth has deep decay, a crack, or a chip, or has had many dental procedures done on it. If the tooth isn’t treated, the issue can become worse and an abscess can form. This abscess can be devastating for the tooth, and when one tooth suffers, surrounding teeth can too. All this can be prevented with a root canal procedure.

A dentist or root canal specialist will be the one to make a determination about whether a root canal is necessary. When making a determination, the professional will look for certain signs like tooth pain, sensitivity, tenderness, or discoloration, as well as gum swelling or lymph node tenderness. There may be other signs and considerations too.

Many people are afraid of root canals because they heard or assumed that they’re painful, but actually, most people report the procedure isn’t any more uncomfortable than having a filling placed! This means some slight discomfort, but it really is minimal because the professional uses local anesthesia to numb the tooth and gums beforehand. Also, the procedure isn’t especially long for a patient.

Your average root canal procedure is 30 to 60 minutes long. More complex procedures may take 90 minutes. The procedure does take a little while, but shouldn’t be very uncomfortable for you, if at all.

At Ideal Endodontics, our root canal doctors are Dr. Moein Darjani DDS, and Dr. Ali Manesh DMD. Both are specialists in root canals and root canal therapy, so they know exactly what to look for when determining whether a patient needs a root canal, and they’re more than qualified to perform one for you. You can read more about Dr. Darjani, and Dr. Manesh, and their qualifications on our Endodontists page.

Ideal Endodontics has locations in both Washington DC and Woodbridge VA, and we serve surrounding areas like the Arlington VA area. Please see our Locations page for our locations’ addresses and contact information. Call us at the location near you if you have any other questions for us at Ideal Endodontics.

When you’re ready, go ahead and schedule a consultation with one of the doctors from our appointments page! During a consultation, we’ll ask you about your issue, provide an examination, and tell you more about root canal therapy with us.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!