What's the Deal with Root Canals?

Root Canals, also referred to as endodontic therapy, are needed when the internal tissue or pulp of the tooth becomes infected (The pulp is a soft tissue containing; vessels, nerves, and connective tissue). Once the pulp tissue is inflamed the nerve also becomes infected and this is what causes the pain you feel. After a dentist thoroughly cleans out the bacteria and removes the infected nerve, an artificial nerve is placed inside the tooth in order to restore normal function.

Damage, irritation, or inflammation of a tooth’s pulp is caused by:

• Deep decay (often from failure to maintain proper oral hygiene)
• Having multiple procedures performed on one tooth (e.g. cavity fillings)
• Improper cavity fillings that result in further decay
• Cracks or chips in the tooth
• Trauma to the face

Symptoms of decay that point to a root canal usually include:

• a severe toothache that usually responds to applied pressure
• sensitivity to hot/cold foods
• swelling of the gums
• darkening of the tooth’s enamel

Don't wait to see if your pain gets better in a few days. Those few days could make a difference. The earlier you see your Newport Beach dentist, the better chance you’ll have at saving your tooth and preventing unnecessary pain. Risks of untreated tooth decay may result in an abscess (which is a formation of pus around the infected tooth), nerve damage, and complete loss of the tooth that would result in an expensive and painful tooth extraction.

Read more information on our affordable root canal procedure and the steps involved in the process.