Endodontic Services in Lansing

Root canal or endodontic treatment may be necessary when the pulp tissue inside the root canals of a tooth becomes infected or damaged, which can be caused by dental trauma or decay.  Teeth generally have between one and four root canals and a root canal procedure may be performed on a single root canal or multiple root canals within a tooth.

Occasionally a tooth that was treated months or years ago may develop new problems. In some cases, a tooth that has been treated endodontically fails to heal or continues to have pain. You may have another chance to save the tooth with a second endodontic procedure.

Sometimes it may become necessary to remove the infected root tips or apex and the nearby tissue to preserve the health of the surrounding teeth and gums. Known as an apical surgery or an apicoectomy, we remove an infection around the apex of the tooth and then seal the root’s tip to help prevent new infections.

The blood vessels, nerves, and tissue that keep a tooth healthy and alive are located in the tooth’s pulp, which is protected by the outer enamel and tooth structure. Sometimes the pulp becomes infected and needs to be removed with a pulpotomy. Because this procedure is often performed on deciduous (baby) teeth, it is sometimes referred to as a baby root canal.

Regenerative endodontics utilizes biologically-based tissue engineering to help restore tooth canals or immature permanent teeth. Replacing damaged pulp tissue in the tooth root with healthy tissue allows continued healing of the tooth root and surrounding tissue.