Dr. Louis Bush DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Over 20 Years Experience
Root Canals
Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when an untreated cavity reaches all the way to this pulp. Treatment may also be needed when deep restorations or trauma to a tooth cause nerve damage.
Once the pulp becomes infected, it can begin to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is known as an abscess). If the pulp is infected, not only is it painful but it will require treatment as it cannot heal on its own. Symptoms that indicate the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. However, sometimes no symptoms are apparent and you may be unaware of any problem until a checkup.
A root canal is performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth.
Alternate treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal is filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy.
The nature of an RCT can vary significantly; while many are completed in a shorter time frame, general clinical circumstances—such as complex root anatomy, persistent infection, or calcified canals—can require additional time or multiple visits to treat thoroughly. We strive for the best possible outcome with every procedure; however, because dentistry involves complex biological factors, there are many reasons why a tooth may not heal as expected despite a clinician's best efforts.
