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Your teeth are primarily made up of three different tissues. First, the hard outside of your teeth is made up of enamel. Under the enamel tissue lies dentin tissue. Dentin is what allows your teeth to absorb a large amount of pressure and flex without breaking.
Finally, there is the tooth pulp. Pulp is the only soft tissue within the tooth. It is made up of blood vessels and nerves. The pulp of the tooth inside its root is referred to as the root canal, and when the pulp is infected, blood vessels and nerves can die, causing sensitivity and inflammation.
A root canal procedure can be performed as a last resort to save the tooth and prevent it from needing to be removed as a result of infection and bacteria.
Also, a root canal can become infected from a broken tooth that allows bacteria and infection to enter the root canal. Once the root canal becomes infected, there are only two solutions for the tooth: root canal therapy or tooth extraction.
If the root canal becomes infected with bacteria, the infection can spread from the root canal to the gums and cause other, even more serious dental problems, and possibly allowing the infection to enter the blood stream.
An infected root canal can be detected by:
- Swollen Gums
- Redness Around Tooth
- Intense Tooth Pain
- Increased Tooth Sensitivity
- Throbbing Pain
- Hot and Cold Lingering Sensitivity
A root canal procedure begins by first opening a hole in the top of the tooth, then removing the pulp tissue from inside, shaping and disinfecting the canals, and finally replacing the pulp tissue with a filling material.
A root canal is a way for you to avoid other dental restorations like bridges or dental implants that you would need if the tooth were extracted as a necessary measure.
Generally the strength of the tooth is weakened by the root canal procedure. So the opening is made, the pulp is built up and the tooth is fitted for a crown, allowing you to smile and eat foods with confidence.
If you are suffering from any of the above root canal symptoms contact our Caliber Dental for a dentistry consultation.