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When decay is likely to damage or has already killed a tooth, root canal therapy often is needed. During a root canal, your dentist removes the pulp from the center of a tooth and fills the pulp cavity. This can prevent the development of a painful infection in the pulp that could potentially spread to other teeth. A root canal can also treat an infection that has developed into an abscessed tooth, which can relieve toothache, stop infection, and promote healing. People often think of root canal therapy and immediately associate it with pain. In reality, root canal therapy is known to restore and save an average of 17 million teeth each year. Root canal therapy helps to keep your tooth and stop the pain, which is always a better alternative to have a tooth extraction. What is Root Canal Therapy? Your tooth is made up of a hard protective shell called enamel, a softer middle layer called dentin and a soft tissue inner layer called dental pulp. Composed of nerve tissue, lymph tissue and blood vessels, the dental pulp is considered a vital part of your tooth. If your dental pulp is severely damaged, the tooth begins to die. Root canal therapy is often the best treatment to prevent and eliminate infection, preventing tooth loss. Signs you might need a root canal include: * Minimal to severe pain
* Tooth discoloration
* Swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue
* Signs of infection visible on a radiograph Root canal therapy allows dentists to save your teeth in the safest way possible and is used to find the cause and treat the problems of the dental pulp. The narrow channels beneath the pulp chamber in the inner part of your tooth are hollowed out and cleaned through root canal therapy and the roots are filled with materials that are designed to prevent pain and infection from recurring.
The Basics of Root Canal Therapy Your tooth is made up of three main components: a hard protective shell called enamel, a softer middle layer called dentin and a soft tissue inner layer called dental pulp. If your layer of dental pulp is significantly traumatized, your tooth begins to slowly die, requiring the need for root canal therapy to prevent or eliminate infection and tooth loss. Root canal therapy involves disinfecting and cleansing your tooth and removing debris from the coronal pulp chamber and canals associated with it. Once your affected tooth's canals are cleaned and shaped, they are filled with materials to prevent pain and infection from recurring. After your root canal therapy, you should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it fully restored by your dentist. Proper oral hygiene is essential in maintaining your newly restored tooth. Make sure you maintain regular brushing, flossing and check-ups with your Provo dentist. When your tooth is infected, the pain you exhibit is often related to your diseased tooth and not the actual procedure of the root canal. If you exhibit any of the signs listed, it is important to consult your Provo dentist to decide what the best treatment for your infection would be. With proper examination, your dentist will determine if root canal therapy is right for your tooth.
Dr. Darren Gardner, dentist in Provo, earned his bachelor degree in science from Brigham Young University after serving a Korean speaking mission in the Washington D.C. area. Dr. Gardner, dentist in Provo, UT, then returned to Virginia to attend dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University where he graduated with magna cum laude honors.
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