ROOT CANAL THERAPY
What is a root canal?
Root canal therapy is the process of removing infected or injured tissue (pulp) from inside the crown and roots of a tooth. Once cleaned, the canal is disinfected, shaped, filled and sealed with natural rubber-like material called gutta percha.
When tooth decay is left untreated, it makes its way to the center of your tooth, called the pulp. The pulp is where all the essential nerves and blood vessels are, that provide nutrients to your tooth.
Root canals eliminate tooth infections that, left untreated, could cause serious issues like:
- Infection that spreads to other teeth
- Jawbone damage
- Tooth loss
What are signs you may need a root canal?
If you have an infected tooth, you may need root canal treatment to clear out the infection. You can have infected teeth without symptoms. When you have symptoms, they may include:
- Tooth pain that doesn’t go away. Lots of things make your teeth hurt. But pain that’s deep in a tooth or that spreads to your jaw, face or other teeth may mean you have an infection.
- Pressure hurts. If your tooth hurts when you eat or touch it, it may mean something damaged the nerves around your tooth pulp.
- Swollen gums. If you have an infected tooth, your gums may swell or feel tender.
- Pimple on your gums. Infected teeth can create pimples or boils on your gums that ooze smelly pus.
- Swollen jaw. Your jaw may swell from pus that doesn’t drain away from your infected tooth.
- Discolored tooth. Tooth pulp infection keeps blood from getting to your tooth. That makes your tooth turn dark.
- Loose tooth. Pus from infected tooth pulp can soften the bones supporting your tooth, making your tooth feel loose.
We are happy to provide our patients with Root Canal Therapy. Please contact us to learn more about this procedure today!
