Root Canal Therapy

Restore Your Oral Health ASAP

Repair Your Smile With Root Canal Therapy in Stillwater

You probably don’t like the idea of having a root canal performed. However, this beneficial treatment can get your smile back on track. Root canal therapy in Stillwater from Dr. Ernest Reeh offers you all these benefits:

  • Stops your dental pain and helps you relax
  • Saves your diseased tooth from extraction in most cases
  • Protects the health of your other teeth and gums
  • Is performed painlessly, with sedation if you need it
  • Prevents the need for additional dental work
  • Prepares your tooth for a finishing restoration such as a crown

If you think you might need a root canal, call our office for a consultation: 651-370-9498. We offer emergency and same-day care whenever possible. Our competent and compassionate crew looks forward to helping you smile again!

Keep Your Tooth Intact With a Root Canal & Trust Dr. Reeh’s Expertise

Many people have misconceptions about root canal treatment. There are numerous myths about root canals floating around, including one that claims it’s better to extract a tooth than perform a root canal on it.

Another common belief is that a root canal is a painful treatment to be feared. In actuality, a root canal procedure by a board certified endodontist like Dr. Reeh is no more uncomfortable than getting a tooth filled. Dr. Reeh will make sure the area we’re working on is fully numb before he attempts anything with your tooth. You shouldn’t feel any pain at all. Plus, sedation is always available if you’re nervous about your procedure.

The purpose of a root canal is to remove the diseased pulp, seal off the tooth, and save it from extraction. It is always better to keep your natural tooth in place whenever possible. Although there are great tooth replacement options available today, including dental implants, a natural tooth will always outperform a replacement.

To perform a root canal:

  • Using our CT scanner, we will first create a 3-D image of your mouth for a detailed look at your tooth, roots, nerves, and bone. This ensures efficient diagnosis and treatment planning.
  • Dr. Reeh accesses the diseased pulp through a small opening in the top of the tooth.
  • He uses specialized instruments to clean out the pulp.
  • The inside of the tooth is sanitized to completely eliminate any bacteria.
  • Dr. Reeh also carefully repairs and shapes your root canals.
  • He fills the root canals with a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha. This helps prevent future problems.
  • He places a temporary or permanent filling on top of the tooth to seal the opening.

We recommend that you have your regular dentist place a crown on the repaired tooth to strengthen it and restore your biting and chewing capacity. Once this is complete, you shouldn’t have any more problems from this tooth.

Occasionally, a root canal may need to be repeated. Endodontic retreatment may be required due to hidden root canals that didn’t show up on X-rays or a crown that isn’t placed on the tooth soon enough. In either situation, lingering bacteria can create problems that we need to correct.

If you think you might need root canal therapy in Stillwater, call us today at 651-370-9498 to make an appointment with Dr. Reeh. You can also make an appointment online.

Common Questions About Root Canal Therapy

How much does a root canal cost?

Each patient is unique, and each root canal case is different. So it isn’t possible to give you an estimate for your procedure without performing an exam, taking X-rays, and working up a treatment plan. Once we have gathered the information we need, we’ll be happy to give you a price for your treatment. As a convenience, we offer third-party financing options that allow you to pay off your treatment over time.

Can a root canal become infected again?

Yes, it is possible for a root canal to become infected again. There are several reasons why this might occur, including not getting a crown soon enough after treatment. If your root canal becomes infected a second time, we would need to do an endodontic retreatment, essentially repeating the root canal treatment a second time.

Are root canals painful?

Although root canals have been made out to be the bad guy of dentistry, they are actually very beneficial. In the right hands, a root canal treatment doesn’t produce any more discomfort than you would experience from getting a tooth filling. Even so, we’ll use local anesthetic to ensure a comfortable procedure. Sedation is always available as well.