Root Canals
An area at the core of the tooth is known as the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels that provide nourishment to the tooth and keep it from becoming brittle. The pulp also has nerve tissue and acts as a sensory organ, detecting changes in temperature and pressure at the surface of the tooth. When bacteria enters the pulp through deep cavities, cracks or older fillings, the pulp gets infected. This infection causes an abscess, which results in pain, swelling, bone damage and loss of the involved tooth.
Root canal therapy is the treatment process of removing infected pulp tissue from the tooth, disinfecting the root canals by cleaning and shaping them with fine instruments and finally filling the canals to seal them from future microbial invasions. A tooth becomes brittle following a root canal filling, since it no longer receives nutrients and is susceptible to fractures. For this reason, a crown is often recommended as a final restoration for the tooth.
If you experience:
- Moderate to severe pain while chewing
- Lingering toothaches when drinking hot or cold liquids and food
- Spontaneous toothache that keeps you awake at night
Call our office for a consultation.
