Root Canals in West Milford, NJ

Agnieszka Jamrozek, DMD provides root canal treatment in West Milford, NJ. Call 973-728-3779 to learn more and schedule your appointment.

Root canal therapy is needed when the pulp inside a tooth becomes irritated or infected. Although only a dentist can tell you if you need a root canal, there are several signs that the pulp is compromised:

• Sensitivity to hot and cold sensations, with pain lasting even after the stimulus is removed
• Difficulty chewing
• Severe pain
• Swelling around the painful tooth
• A small, pimple-like bump on the gums near the affected tooth

There are many misconceptions about root canals, the most common being that they are painful. You might be surprised to learn that with modern dental technology and local anesthetic, root canals are usually no more painful than getting a cavity filled. Because root canal therapy is used to treat severe tooth pain, many patients leave our office feeling better than when they came in.

Root canal treatment involves opening the tooth to access and remove the infected or inflamed pulp. The canals are shaped and the tooth chamber is cleaned to prevent reinfection. After replacing the pulp with a material called gutta-percha, your tooth is sealed with a dental crown or filling, which protects it from infection while also restoring its function and appearance.

A root canal allows us to save your natural tooth, which is always the preferred outcome for your dental health. The other option is to have your tooth extracted, but this will lead to the need for additional dental work because the extracted tooth will have to be replaced with a dental implant or bridge. In the long run, a root canal is less expensive since it decreases the number of visits to our office and the amount of time spent in the dentist’s chair.

The anatomy of your canals and the complexity of your case determine how long a root canal treatment takes. A simple root canal can be completed in as little as 30 minutes, while a more complex case may require two 90-minute appointments.

After a root canal, crowns are frequently needed, but sometimes a dental filling or onlay can be used to restore your tooth instead.

Yes, if your canal structure is uncomplicated and you don’t have a serious infection, a root canal can be completed in one day.

Fillings and root canals are not the same thing. A dental filling repairs the tooth’s surface structure, whereas root canal therapy treats issues on the inside of the tooth. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, you have two options for treatment: a root canal or tooth extraction.

While tooth sensitivity can indicate that the pulp inside the tooth is inflamed or infected, there are other causes of sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can be caused by decay, enamel erosion, or gum recession; these do not require root canal treatment.

Call 973-728-3779 to schedule your appointment.