What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is a straightforward procedure designed to save your natural tooth when the inner pulp becomes infected or severely damaged. Rather than extracting the tooth, we carefully remove the infected tissue, thoroughly clean and disinfect the tooth’s interior canals, and seal everything to prevent future problems.
The Goal: Preserve your natural tooth, eliminate pain and infection, and restore full function so you can eat, speak, and smile comfortably.
Why Save the Tooth? Your natural teeth are always the best option for chewing efficiency, maintaining proper bite alignment, and preserving your facial structure. Root canal therapy allows you to keep your tooth for many years, often for a lifetime, with proper care.
The procedure has an excellent success rate and is often the most conservative treatment option compared to extraction and replacement with an implant or bridge.
When Do You Need a Root Canal?
Common Signs and Symptoms
Several symptoms may indicate that you need root canal therapy. If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s important to see us promptly:
- Persistent pain or throbbing in one specific tooth
- Severe sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the stimulus is removed
- Swelling or tenderness around the affected tooth
- Pimple-like bump on your gums (called a fistula) near the painful tooth
- Deep decay that has reached close to the tooth’s nerve
- Discoloration of the tooth, often indicating nerve damage
- Pain when biting down or applying pressure to the tooth
Diagnostic Process
Accurate diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment. During your appointment, we’ll:
- Clinical Examination: Carefully assess the tooth and surrounding tissues
- Digital X-rays: Get detailed images to see the tooth’s interior structure and any infection
- Sensitivity Testing: Determine the health of the tooth’s nerve
- Comprehensive Evaluation: Rule out other causes of pain
This thorough diagnostic process helps us confirm whether root canal therapy is needed and avoid unnecessary extractions.
Our Root Canal Services in Nashua, NH
Anterior and Pre-Molar Root Canals
We can preform root canal therapy for front teeth (anterior) and premolar teeth, which typically have simpler root structures and can be completed more quickly and comfortably. These procedures are generally:
- Less complex due to fewer and straighter canals
- Faster to complete – often finished in one appointment
- More predictable in terms of healing and success
- Easier to restore with natural-looking results
Our focus on these specific types of root canals allows us to provide expert care and excellent outcomes for the majority of endodontic needs.
Root Canal Retreatment
Sometimes a previously treated root canal may need retreatment if:
- The initial treatment didn’t fully eliminate the infection
- New decay has reached the treated area
- The tooth has become reinfected over time
- For more complex root canals, we work closely with specialists to ensure you are properly taken care of.
Retreatment is often more comfortable than the initial procedure since much of the nerve tissue has already been removed. We can often save teeth that might otherwise need extraction.
What to Expect During a Root Canal Appointment
We know many patients feel anxious about root canal therapy, so here’s exactly what happens during your visit:
Call 603-207-8926 to schedule your appointment and discover comfortable, modern care you can trust.
Root Canal Costs and Insurance
Root canal therapy is typically much more cost-effective than extracting the tooth and replacing it with an implant or bridge. The investment in saving your natural tooth provides excellent long-term value.
We believe cost shouldn’t prevent you from saving your natural tooth, so we work with you to make treatment affordable.
When We Refer You Out (Molar Root Canals)
While we may be able to handle simple anterior and premolar root canals, more complicated root canals are referred to an endodontist. Molars have more complex root systems with multiple canals that require specialized expertise and equipment.
Why We Refer Molars:
- Specialized Training: Endodontists have additional training in complex root canal procedures
- Advanced Equipment: Specialized tools and microscopes for intricate molar anatomy
- Better Outcomes: Specialists achieve higher success rates for complex cases
- Your Best Interest: We want you to receive the most appropriate care for your specific needs
Our Trusted Partners: We work with excellent endodontists throughout the Nashua area and will coordinate your referral to ensure seamless care.
Why Choose Our Nashua Dental Office for Root Canal Therapy?
Schedule Your Root Canal Appointment in Nashua Today
Don’t let tooth pain disrupt your life any longer. Root canal therapy can provide quick relief while saving your natural tooth.
Call for:
- Urgent tooth pain relief
- Same-day emergency appointments
- Comprehensive root canal evaluation
- Second opinions on recommended extractions
We’re here to help when you need us most, with gentle care and effective treatment that gets you back to comfortable living.
