Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is the treatment of damaged pulp (nerve) in the center of a tooth. The damage can be due to the following causes:
- Deep cavities
- Trauma
- Fracture (cracked tooth)
- Internal or external resorption
- Braces
Symptoms of damaged nerve:
- Lingering sensitivity or pain to temperature (especially to hot)
- Swelling - outside or inside the mouth
- Fever
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Pressure
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Some cases might not have any noticeable symptoms
Root canal therapy can take between 1 to 3 appointments. During the treatment your general dentist or endodontist (root canal treatment specialist) will remove the damaged nerve tissue, then the interior of the tooth will be cleaned and sealed. Then the tooth is restored with a tooth color filling or crown depending on the condition of the remaining tooth structure. Always follow the treatment with oral hygiene regimen and routine check up to ensure long term health of your teeth.