Endodontic Therapy/Root Canals
Root canal treatment, or endodontic treatment, is needed when the nerve of the tooth has died or is severely inflamed. The process involves cutting a hole through the top or back of the tooth and removing the nerve and blood vessels in the tooth. The canal is then thoroughly cleaned and filled with an inert filling material called gutta percha. If the tooth is in the front of your mouth, it may require only a small filling to seal up the hole. If it is a posterior tooth or an anterior tooth that has broken or decay has broken down the tooth, then a crown will be necessary to prevent fracture of the crown in the future.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Symptoms of a dead or dying nerve in a tooth are usually pain to cold, hot or biting pressure. Cold sensitivity that lingers for a while can be a symptom that the nerve is inflamed and may die. A nerve can die for many reasons, a few are:
- Trauma - Such as getting hit in the mouth
- Decay - Caries that has gone deep into the tooth and into the nerve chamber
- Multiple or Large Restorations - Sometimes after a tooth has been restored multiple times it traumatizes the nerve
- Cracked Teeth - A crack in a tooth that extends into the nerve canal may require root canal treatment or extraction if it is severe enough.
- Internal Resorption - This can happen due to trauma of the tooth or for no known reason and causes the tooth root to resorb from the inside out.
Can a root canal fail?
Althought the success rates for root canal treatment are high, occasionally a root canal can fail. This is often due to leakage of the resoration covering the tooth. A missed canal can also cause failure. You will likely notice pain to chewing, swelling, or on the gums near the tooth if this occurs. If this happens retreatment is an option. If the tooth is not treatable again with root canal therapy or a surgical technique called an apicoectomy, then extraction is the only option. Replacement can be made with a dental implant , bridge or a removable denture.
Hours: M-Th 7-5. F 7-3:30
