Endodontics

Root Canal Therapy consist of removing the nerve/pulp from the tooth, cleaning out the canal, and placing a biocompatible material called gutta-purcha to seal the canal. In most cases a temporary filling is placed into the opening of the tooth and allowed to heal for about a month. The next step is a permanent filling and crown. A crown is usually necessary due to the brittleness of the tooth once the pulp is removed. If the tooth isn’t crowned and it fractures below the gum line little can be done to save the tooth and in most cases it has to be extracted. Crowning the tooth will help prevent this from occurring.

Root canal therapy is necessary when the nerve inside the tooth (pulp), becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can be due to many things including:

• Deep Decay
• Deep Restoration
• Fracture in the tooth
• Trauma

If the pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Symptoms include:

• Pain
• Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
• Tenderness to touch and chewing
• Discoloration of the tooth
• Swelling
• Drainage
• Tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gingival tissues.

*However is it possible to have no symptoms*