Root canal treatment
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment (endodontic treatment) fixes problems with a tooth’s soft core or “dental pulp”. Dental pulp lies within the tooth, extending from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root. It contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood and lymph vessels which provide oxygen, nutrients, and feeling to the tooth. It also regulates the growth and development of the tooth during childhood.
Root canal treatment involves removing inflamed, diseased, or dead pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals of a tooth and replacing it with a filling in order to prevent the tooth from being extracted.
When is root canal treatment necessary?
Root canal treatment is recommended in cases of:
The symptoms of damaged, diseased, or inflamed dental pulp requiring root canal treatment include:
A diagnosis for root canal treatment is made on the basis of symptoms reported by the patient, an examination of the tooth, and x-rays of the tooth.
What are the benefits?
The main aim and benefit of root canal treatment is to save a tooth that would otherwise be extracted. Where possible, dentists generally aim to keep natural teeth, as this avoids the need for replacement teeth, which can involve more time and cost.
Considerations
If a tooth requiring this type of treatment is ignored, widespread gum and connective tissue infection may result, as well as loss of the tooth. We at Northmead Dental advise you to visit your dentist at the first sign of any of the above-mentioned symptoms associated with damaged, diseased, or inflamed dental pulp.
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Talk with one of our dentists about your options and what they involve.