Tooth decay, trauma or cracks can cause the nerves of teeth to die. Chronic pain, swelling, sensitivity to hot or cold, or a darkening tooth, are signs that a root canal problem exists. When this occurs your tooth can often still be saved with root canal therapy. Digital images and X-rays are used to confirm proper treatment.
What is Root Canal Therapy?
A root canal is a commonly performed endodontic procedure. It treats problems within the soft core of the tooth, also known as the dental pulp. This procedure can be used to save a natural tooth and prevent the need for restoration techniques. The dental pulp is the soft tissue found inside the tooth from the top all the way down to the end of the root. It contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue that provide nutrients to the tooth as it grows. Patients with infected pulp may experience such symptoms as chronic toothache pain, discoloration or swelling of the tooth, prolonged sensitivity to temperature or tenderness in the gums.
How is a Root Canal performed?
If it is determined that your pulp is diseased, we will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment. We will make an opening in the tooth and into the pulp chamber and remove the damaged pulp. The canals of the tooth root are then thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This procedure usually involves local anesthesia and is typically completed in one or two visits, depending on the treatment needed. Root canal therapy is successful in about 90% of cases. Although some associate the root canal procedure with major discomfort, the therapy is usually not painful.
