Root Canals & Endodontic Treatment in Annandale, VA

The purpose of root canal to remove the canal tissue from your tooth in order to alleviate pain from infection. If the infected tissue is not removed, pain and swelling can result. This cannot only injure your jawbones, but it is detrimental to your overall health. Without the proper treatment, your tooth may need to be removed.

There are many signs that root canal treatment is needed, such as:

  • Pain when biting or chewing
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Spontaneous pain
  • A sinus tract (gum boil)
  • Swelling in the gums or face
  • Reoccurring sinus infections
  • Discoloration of the tooth

During a root canal procedure at our Annandale endodontic office, the interior root system of your tooth is disinfected and obturated (filled) with special root canal filling material.

A tooth's nerve is not vitally important to a tooth's health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its primary function is sensory – to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the tooth.

Root canal therapy is a very successful procedure but you need to remember that additional treatment such as a crown is many times necessary, so the tooth does not crack or get re-infected. Proper follow-up is necessary with your restorative dentist to ensure a proper restoration is placed in the tooth. Also, proper oral hygiene needs to be continued so that decay or periodontal disease do not affect the long-term health of your tooth.

Why choose Prestige Dental Specialists for your root canal?

Our practice specializes in performing root canal treatments/procedures and our doctors are board certified endodontists (root canal dental specialists). Our doctors perform root canals of varying complexities and even the most difficult of cases. We treat over a thousand patients yearly with many years of experience in this field behind us.

Since our doctors are specialists in root canals and endodontics, treatment outcomes are more successful, with quicker treatment times and very little post-operative discomfort. We also utilize state-of-the-art technology such as CT scans for very complex cases, intra-operative microscopes, and laser-assisted irrigation for advanced disinfection of your tooth.

FAQS

Is root canal treatment painful? Root canal treatment is not a painful procedure. Our doctors use dental anesthetic during your treatment that adequately numbs your tooth and the surrounding tissues.

How long does a root canal take? Root canal treatment may take anywhere from one to three visits, depending on complexity of your internal anatomy of the tooth and associated infection inside the tooth and surrounding bone/gum tissue. Your appointment time will vary from 30 to 90 minutes.

Are you awake during a root canal? The majority of our patients stay awake during a root canal procedure. The area is numb and our patients are comfortable. Sometimes, our patients choose to be sedated for the procedure, which may involve nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral, or IV sedation.