Root Canal Treatment

With an exam and digital x-rays. He looks at how much healthy tooth remains, whether a crack reaches the root and how much bone supports it. If the tooth can be restored, he saves it with a root canal; if it can’t, he tells you why and plans the replacement.

The severe pain comes from the infected nerve, and the root canal removes it. The tooth is fully numbed first, so treatment feels much like getting a filling, and sedation is available if you’re nervous.

One for most teeth. A molar has more canals than a front tooth, so it takes longer, and a complex case, such as a curved canal or a heavy infection, gets a second appointment. Dr. Godko tells you which applies to your tooth at your personalized consultation.

Usually, yes. A treated tooth is more brittle, especially a back tooth that takes heavy chewing forces, and a crown protects it from cracking. At Deluxe your new crown is placed the same day, so the tooth goes home protected instead of waiting weeks for another appointment.

No. Deluxe offers periodontal, endodontic, prosthodontic and oral surgery services under one roof. Dr. Godko performs root canal therapy in-house, without referring you to an outside endodontist.

Root canal treatment has a high success rate. A tooth can become reinfected through new decay, a crack or a leaking restoration; then retreatment, an apicoectomy (root-end surgery) when appropriate, a new crown or an extraction is the next step, and Dr. Godko explains which one fits.

Often, yes. A nerve can die quietly, and pain often stops because the nerve has died while the infection stays inside the tooth and can spread into the bone around the root. A tooth that darkens, an old injury, a deep cavity or a dark spot at the root tip on an x-ray all point to a pulp in trouble, so have the tooth checked even when it goes quiet.

Treatment of the pulp, the soft nerve tissue inside the tooth. The inflamed or infected pulp is removed, the canals are cleaned, disinfected, shaped and sealed, and a crown protects the tooth, so your natural tooth stays in place.

Root canal treatment is priced at your personalized consultation, once Dr. Godko has examined the tooth. We accept PPO plans and most carriers, including CIGNA, MetLife, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental and GEHA Connection Dental. No Medicaid, DMO or HMO plans accepted. We work with your insurance to ensure you receive the maximum benefit. 0% financing through Cherry and in-house membership plans are available too.

Deluxe Dentistry & Esthetics has two offices, in Lawrenceville, NJ and Skillman, NJ. Every procedure is available at both offices.