Root Canal (Endodontics)

Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth. Root canals are probably the most notorious procedure in dentistry and the most common procedure relating to endodontics. When a tooth becomes infected it is usually related to the nerves in the root of the tooth. The infected nerves need to be removed. If left untreated an infection can turn into an abscess, which is a much more serious problem that includes bone loss in the jaw.

Over the years, there have been many advances in root canal treatment and our Germantown, MD endodontist Dr. Amir Sarkarzadeh makes sure to stay up to date on these improvements. He can typically save an infected tooth using root canal treatment in just one or two appointments. Our top priority is ensuring you have a comfortable, relaxing experience during your treatment. We’re proud to use state-of-the-art technology to make root canal treatment more efficient and provide patients with a pleasant experience.

To start the procedure, the area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic. Our endodontist in Germantown, MD will then drill down into the tooth to create an opening into the canal. He will then be able to remove infected tissue and clean the canal. After the infection has been removed, the space is filled with a sealant called gutta percha. It is highly recommended that a tooth that has undergone a root canal is fitted with a dental crown after. This will improve the appearance of the tooth, and will also make it much more likely that the root canal is successful.

"Root canal" has become a scary term for dental patients to hear, but the benefits of the procedure and advances in dental technology have made it much less "scary". Local anesthetics and proper pain medication allow the procedure to be performed with little to no pain in most cases. There may be some soreness following the procedure, but that is normal for most dental procedures. Over the counter painkillers are usually enough to relieve any pain afterwards, but our endodontist may prescribe medication. The procedure will also relieve you from pain caused by the infection allowing you to enjoy all the foods you love without any pain from heat, cold, or biting too hard.