Before your procedure begins, we will administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth. After the area is numb, we may place a small sheet of rubber around the tooth to keep it clean and dry during your procedure. Next, we use a small hand tool, typically a drill, to create a hole in the top of the tooth. This hole allows us to access the pulp.
Once the pulp is exposed, we will remove any damaged or diseased tooth material. We may also irrigate the inner chamber of the tooth to wash away any remaining pulp. An antimicrobial solution will kill off any remaining bacteria and reduce your chances of future infection.
Once the chamber is clean and dry, we will fill it with a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha. Gutta-percha seals off the area from bacteria and strengthens the structure of the tooth. The final step involves filling the opening at the top of your tooth with a temporary filling.