Root Canal Therapy
Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way until they reach the tip of the root.
Teeth typically have between one and four root canals. Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the soft tissue in the root canal of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. When the infection becomes worse, it can begin affecting the roots and the bone holding the teeth. A traumatic injury to a tooth can also compromise the pulp, leading to similar problems.
A diseased inner tooth brings a host of problems including pain and sensitivity, as the first indications of a problem. However, a spreading infection can cause small pockets of pus to develop, which can lead to an abscess. Root canal therapy is a remarkable treatment with a very high rate of success and involves removing the diseased tissue, halting the spread of infection, and sealing the root canals to prevent future spread of infection. In fact, root canal therapy is designed to save a problem tooth; before the procedure was developed and gained acceptance, the only alternative for treating a diseased tooth was extraction.
Because root canal therapy is a specialty treatment we will work with and endodontist to provide this service. Once the root canal procedure is complete the specialist will return you to our office to restore the tooth to proper function.
