Root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy (endodontics) removes the infected or inflamed pulp inside a tooth, disinfects the canals, then fills them — to save a tooth that would otherwise need extraction. Performed under local anesthetic, it relieves pain rather than causing it.
When a root canal is needed
Several situations lead to damage of the dental pulp:
- Deep decay reaching the nerve of the tooth.
- A crack or fracture exposing the pulp.
- Infection or abscess at the root.
- Persistent pain or prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold.
How it works
After a diagnosis supported when needed by 3D imaging (CBCT), the tooth is anesthetized, the pulp removed, the canals cleaned and disinfected, then filled. A restoration — often a crown — then protects the tooth. The treated tooth can serve for many more years.
Training and approach
Dr Perrault-Lévesque completed an endodontics mini-residency (North Shore Endodontics, Vancouver, 2024) and uses 3D imaging to assess complex cases. The goal stays conservative: preserve the natural tooth whenever possible.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a root canal painful?
- The treatment is done under local anesthetic; most patients feel no more discomfort than for a filling. It is the infection, not the treatment, that causes pain — the root canal relieves that pain.
- Is a crown always needed after a root canal?
- Often, yes, especially for molars: the treated tooth becomes more fragile and a crown protects it against fracture. The decision depends on how much tooth structure remains.
A question about this treatment?
Clinique Dentaire et d'Implantologie de Magog · 22 rue Laurier · 819 · 847 · 1661
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