Root Canal
Inside each tooth is the pulp that extends down the tooth into the gums. The pulp provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth. Sometimes, due to injury or disease, that pulp dies. This can cause infection, pain, abcesses, tooth discoloration or other complications. Before endodontic treatments, or root canal therapy, if your tooth had a damaged nerve, your dentist would extract your tooth. However, root canal therapy allows you to keep your tooth and saves you the expense and inconvenience of a dental implant if the tooth were extracted. The dead pulp is removed, filled and sealed, and your dentist finishes the restoration with a crown. This type of restorative dentistry is often the type that inspires fear and anxiety. Of course, there was a time when severe pain was associated with this treatment, but modern root canal treatments involve very little discomfort. Generally, it's much better on your total oral health and your pocketbook to repair and restore your teeth than replace them, so if you are still concerned about discomfort, ask your dentist about sedation to help with your anxiety during this treatment.
