Your first visit will consist of an examination including digital x-rays and a consultation explaining your diagnosis and treatment options.  In some cases treatment can begin the same day.  To expedite your care please register online which will provide us with your medical history, dental history, list of current medications, and any relevant dental insurance information.  

Any relevant x-rays taken by your dentist are welcome and may be forwarded to us via email or sent in via regular mail or brought in by you.

Root canal therapy may seem like a lot of trouble but keep in mind that your "bite" is very complex.  The removal of a tooth affects the teeth in front, behind and opposing the lost tooth.  Any of these surrounding teeth can all drift out of position resulting in decay, gum problems, cosmetic problems, and bite problems.  A replacement such as a bridge or implant is usually needed to compensate for the loss of the tooth.  Either of these options is usually more costly than a root canal and crown and can develop problems of their own in time.

In some cases, where there has been so much tooth lost to decay or for other problems, a root canal is not the best choice and Dr. Durand may advise against a root canal.

Your teeth are not very large.  The end of your pinky is larger than the outside of most of your teeth.  During a root canal your doctor is working inside this small space through a small opening in the tooth trying to remove just the diseased tissues and leave as much of the sound tooth as possible.  Some of the instruments used are as small as 3/1,000ths of an inch!  Needless to say using a microscope allows this small space to be magnified as well as flooded with a very bright light source.  The combination of increased magnification and illumination allows the doctor to see and treat each case in a more meticulous fashion.

We will take every measure to make your visit as comfortable as possible.  If treatment is needed, we will inject a small amount of anesthesia to gently numb a concentrated area of your mouth. For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.

Your tooth and gums may be tender for several days as a result of manipulation during treatment and the previous condition of your tooth.  Do not chew food on the affected side during the healing period.  Please continue your normal brushing and flossing regimen.  Discomfort may be alleviated by taking ibuprofen (Advil), acetominophen (Tylenol), or other over the counter pain relievers as directed.

Note:  Alcohol is not advised while taking pain relievers.  Should you experience discomfort that cannot be controlled or should you develop swelling, please call the office at 865 982-8000.

Improper healing may be caused by:

*The crown or filling in the tooth losing its protective seal which allow bacteria to enter inside the tooth.

*New decay allows bacteria to enter inside the tooth.

*A crown or filling was not placed soon enough after the root canal to prevent saliva from contaminating the inside of the tooth.

*Curved or narrow canals that prevented full treatment of the tooth.

*Complicated anatomy that went undetected during initial treatment.

Many teeth have microscopic cracks in the enamel which are called craze lines and generally present no problems. 

However some teeth which have become weakened from decay or fillings or have been subjected to heavy strain (clenching or gritting your teeth) can develop root fractures.  These fractures provide a fissure in which bacteria live and can result in soreness to chewing, nerve damage, and gum abscess. 

Treatment involves protecting the tooth from further strain (stop clenching or gritting teeth, or wearing a bite guard).  Frequently a crown is also needed to restore some of the strength to the tooth.  If symptoms persist, then a root canal may be needed.  In some cases symptoms may persist despite a crown and root canal.  Relief in these cases can only be achieved by removing the tooth.

Unfortunately most root canal therapy is brought on by cavities that occurred initially as a teenager.  So the short answer to this question is don't get any cavities as a teenager.  We encourage you to assist your children and grandchildren in learning the value and means of preventing cavities by a good diet, proper dental hygeine, and regular preventive dental care. 

In most cases cavities are a result of 3 factors:                                                       

1.  A lack of resistance to cavities due to genetics.

2.  A diet that promotes cavities rather than oral health.

3.  Inadequate or ineffective oral hygiene (tooth brushing and flossing). 

Of course a lack of genetic resistance you are born with and can't be changed.  Your diet and hygiene habits can be changed to promote health.

Dental x-rays are very low in dose and are thought to be very safe.  Since 1997, when digitally captured x-rays became available, all of our patients have benefitted from digital imaging.  Because the digital sensor is so responsive, our patients have up to a 90% reduction in dose compared to conventional chemical x-rays.  Also we do not have to use and discard toxic chemicals into the environment.

The cost varies with the severity of the damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected.  In general, endodontic treatment is less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth.