The root canal is a cavity inside the tooth that houses nerve, vascular, and connective tissue. This tissue allows the tooth to sense temperature and pressure. It also provides blood flow to the tooth. If this tissue is injured or becomes infected, you might require root canal treatment.
Why Would I Need Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal therapy is used to save a tooth whose interior tissues have been damaged. Damage to these tissues, called the pulp, can occur due to a number of factors. These include:
- Severe decay
- Trauma or injury
- Cracks in the teeth
- Damage from multiple restorations
Bacteria can enter through cracks and damaged areas, causing infection in the pulp tissues. This infection can spread into the surrounding bone, to other teeth, or into the sinus cavities. Left to spread, infection can lead to serious side effects, especially if it moves into the sinuses or even into the brain.
If you experience symptoms such as extreme discomfort in your tooth or gums, fever, or overall malaise, often accompanied by a bad taste in the mouth, you should talk to our dentist as soon as possible.
How Root Canal Therapy Works
Without treatment, the tooth would probably need to be extracted. With treatment, it can remain usable, keeping your smile intact. Treatment will also keep the infection from spreading and eliminate any discomfort or any other unpleasant symptoms. Your dentist will probably refer you to an endodontist for the procedure. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating the tooth pulp.
Root canal therapy involves removing the infected tissue from the tooth’s interior. The dentist uses special files to do this. The files are of different sizes so they can clear the infection out of both the body of the tooth and the roots. Once the infected tissue is removed, the tooth’s interior is sterilized and filled with a resin that will keep the tooth intact. A dental crown is then placed on the tooth to ensure it will be usable.
Call the office of Dr. Daggula to schedule a consultation with our doctor, and discuss the best treatment for you.
