Root Canal Therapy
When a tooth's pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased, root canal therapy may be needed.
Root canal therapy is performed to remove the bacteria and unhealthy pulp from the inside of the tooth and replace it with biocompatible materials that will preserve the normal anatomy of the tooth. The tooth is then sealed to prevent recurrent disease to the tooth and root. Causes of an infected pulp include:
- a deep cavity
- repeated dental procedures
- a cracked or broken tooth
- injury to the tooth (even if there's not a visible crack or chip)
Symptoms of a tooth needing root canal therapy can range from severe facial swelling and constant throbbing to absolutely no pain at all. In all situations, a tooth that requires root canal therapy will never heal itself. Allowing a tooth to go untreated can lead to complications including airway closure, brain infection, heart disease, and destruction of facial bone.
At Marion Dental Group we have many treatment options for a wide range of root canal circumstances, but the first step is scheduling an appointment.
