Root Canal Treatments
Root canal treatments, also named endodontic treatments, treat the interior of a tooth. During such treatments, the dentist removes the inflamed or infected tooth pulp, attentively cleans and shapes the interior of the root canal, subsequently filling and sealing the space.
Then, at a second visit, the dentist will insert a crown or another restoration on the tooth in order to protect and reinstate its function.
When is a root canal treatment necessary?
In the middle of the tooth, there are root canals and a pulp chamber made of a living tissue, named the tooth pulp. The pulp is composed of a fine network of tissue fibers, blood vessels and nerves.
When the pulp gets infected, it could spread to and by the root canals (root) of the tooth. This could result in an abscess, causing a swelling of the tissues surrounding the tooth.
If this happens and a root canal treatment is not effectuated, the infection will extend and, certainly, the tooth will be extracted.
Symptoms which necessitate a root canal treatment
The symptoms which indicate that a root canal treatment is necessary include:
- long sensitivity to heat or cold
- pain
- tenderness when chewing or touching
- darkened color
- drainage and swelling
- tenderness in the lymph nodes, as well as the connecting gum tissues and bone.
However, sometimes, there might be no symptoms.
If you or a loved one want to schedule a root canal treatment with one of our dentists, please contact us.