Endodontic Treatment

Endodontic treatment or root canal therapy is a time-tested method to save a natural tooth. Patients in Crofton and surrounding communities including Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, and the greater Washington DC area trust Vickii R. Bingham-Lester, DMD when the need arises.

When a root canal is necessary

A large area of untreated decay, a cracked tooth, multiple dental treatments, or repeated trauma are common reasons Gambrills endodontic treatment is needed. These situations can lead to infection, causing discoloration, sensitivity, or acute pain.

Root canal therapy with a difference

Dr. Bingham-Lester performs root canal procedures in the lower arch, and most in the upper arch. If you need a root canal in a maxillary molar, she will provide referral to a trusted endodontist.

• Dr. Bingham-Lester’s first priority is to get you out of pain.
• X-rays are taken, using digital radiography, to get a clear picture of the location and extent of damage.
• The root canal site is numbed.
• An Isolite® mouthpiece is placed into your mouth. It is made of a soft polymeric material, designed to keep your tongue and cheek out of the way.

• The tooth is opened and areas of damaged structure are removed.
• Diseased pulp and nerves are removed. Canals are cleaned, sterilized, filled, and sealed.
• The tooth is covered with a crown.

The procedure brings relief from tooth pain. Gambrills patients compare endodontic treatment to getting a filling, but the appointment takes a little longer. The restoration looks natural, and function is restored because nerves in teeth allow you to sense bite pressure and temperature, but the nerves in a single tooth are not necessary for normal chewing.


If you need root canal therapy, you are in good hands with Dr. Bingham-Lester. Call 410-885-6522 to become her newest patient.

Related Article

• You don’t have to see an endodontist for root canal therapy in Gambrills MD
• What you need to know about root canals in Crofton