- Endodontics or root canal therapy is a specialized treatment that addresses the nerve and blood vessel inside the teeth. The nervous system inside the tooth is a complex network of nerves and blood vessels.
- When the tooth is damaged or decayed and the nervous system inside the tooth is damaged, root canal therapy maybe needed to reduce symptoms and restore tooth back to normal function.
Signs and symptoms that may necessitate root canal treatment:
- Swelling and pain in the gums.
- Sensitivity to hold and cold
- Pain upon biting and chewing.
- Tooth color that appears to be red, brown, or even black.
Reasons for root canal treatment:
Infection from oral bacteria The same bacteria that caused tooth decay will eventually lead to nerve damages within the tooth. This is why when there are tooth decay, we always recommend removing the decay as soon as possible to prevent further damages to the nerve inside the tooth.
Broken tooth Sometimes the broken part of the tooth exposes the nerve inside the tooth. When this happens, the tooth will appear red, which usually means the inner part of the tooth is now exposed to outside environment. This can be painful and root canal therapy may be needed right away.
Trauma or injuries to teeth When a tooth has been traumatized resulting in loose tooth or even dislodged, root canal therapy is often needed within 2 weeks after the injury has occurred.
What happens during root canal therapy?
Multiple dental appointments maybe needed to complete the root canal therapy, depending on the severity. During root canal treatment, multiple x-rays will be taken to assure the completion of the root canal therapy.With the patient properly anesthetized, we will make a small opening into the tooth and remove the damaged nerves and blood vessels. This will result in an empty space inside the tooth. The space will then be cleaned, disinfected and filling materials will be placed to fill in the space where the nerve used to reside. After root canal therapy is completed, a temporary filling material will be placed to monitor the healing of the tooth. Soon after root canal therapy is completed, it is highly recommended that a final restoration like crown is placed over the tooth to prevent fracture or crack of the remaining tooth structure.