KELSEY HESTER DMD

A root canal procedure is made necessary when an untreated cavity reaches all the way to the nerve of the tooth. Treatment may also be needed when deep restorations or trauma to a tooth cause nerve damage. Once the nerve of the (pulp) becomes infected, it can begin to destroy the surrounding bone (this is known as an abscess). If the pulp is infected, not only is it painful but it will require treatment as it cannot heal on its own. Symptoms of a pulp infection may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. However, sometimes no symptoms are apparent and you may be unaware of any problem until a checkup. A root canal is performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth. Alternate treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal is filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy.