Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.

Performing a root canal on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what they don't realize is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.

Root canal treatment is highly successful and can last a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.

Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy:

  • An abscess (or pimple) on the gums
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Severe toothache pain
  • Swelling and/or tenderness
  • Sometimes no symptoms are present

Reasons for root canal therapy:

  • Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the tissue inside the tooth)
  • Infection or abscess has developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
  • Injury or trauma to the tooth

What does root canal therapy involve?

A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by Dr. Weyman.
  1. Local anesthetic is used to numb the tooth. 
  2. We create an access point from the top of the tooth 
  3. The canals in the tooth are cleaned, disinfected and filled with a bio-compatible filling material
  4. The tooth is restored to its normal contour, decay removed and then shaped for placement of a permanent crown 
After treatment, your tooth may still be sensitive, but this will subside as the inflammation diminishes and the tooth heals. Prescriptions for antibiotics and analgesics are written if necessary. If IV sedation is utilized, Dr. Weyman can administer agents to significantly reduce post-operative discomfort and swelling. 

You will be given care instructions after each appointment. Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your root canal treatment.

IV & Conscious Sedation

Conscious Sedation is defined as a minimally depressed level of consciousness that retains the patient's ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond appropriately to physical stimulation and verbal command, and that is produced by pharmacological or non-pharmacologic method or a combination thereof.

Sedation Dentistry, sometimes called Relaxation Dentistry, refers to the way dentist's manage pain and anxiety during dental appointments.

Unlike General Anesthesia where a patient is completely unconscious, asleep, and unable to respond, patients under Conscious Sedation are able to respond to commands and breathe on their own. 
IV Sedation - Our Recommendation for Root Canal Therapy

IV Sedation, also known as Moderate/Conscious Sedation, is used by select Dentists with specialized training and certification. With this type of sedation, medications are administered directly into the blood stream. The greatest advantage of IV Sedation is that if someone is not sedated enough, the doctor can administer more medication. IV Sedation is not used commonly in dental offices because of the specialized, advanced training and certification required by the State Board of Dentistry. The medications used for IV Sedation are more effective than the same medications taken orally. There is a more profound amnesia associated with this technique. 

Dr. Weyman and his staff have significant advanced training in IV Sedation. Dr. Weyman has taught hundreds of dentists IV Sedation at some of the top universities in the country. 


Share by: