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ROOT
CANAL THERAPY
What
is root canal therapy?
Root
canal therapy is designed to correct
disorders of the dental pulp -- the
soft tissue inside the tooth that contains
nerves, blood vessels, and connective
tissue. Teeth with abscessed, or infected,
nerves were once removed with corrective
therapy. But now, in 95 percent of these
cases of pulpal infection, the natural
tooth can be saved through modern endodontic
procedures. (Also called pulp specialists,
endodontists have undergone specialized
training in performing root canal therapy.
What
causes pulpal nerve damage?
The
most common causes of pulpal nerve damage
are:
• physical irritation - generally
brought on by aggressive tooth decay
(cavity) reaching down to the nerve
or through deep fillings, which allows
harmful bacteria to reach the nerve
resulting in infection and decay
• trauma - a blow to a tooth or
the jaw can cause damage to sensitive
nerve tissue within the tooth.
What are the symptoms of pulpal nerve
damage?
The following are the most common symptoms
of pulpal nerve damage. However, each
individual may experience symptoms differently.
Symptoms may include:
• pain in the tooth when biting
down
• tooth pain while chewing
• oversensitivity of the teeth
with hot or cold drinks
• facial swelling
The
symptoms of pulpal nerve damage may
resemble other oral health conditions.
Consult a dentist, or other oral health
specialist, for diagnosis.
Why
is root canal therapy necessary?
Without
treatment, the infection of the dental
pulp will spread to the bone around
the tooth, making it not longer able
to hold the tooth in place.
What
does the root canal procedure involve?
Treatment
begins with the initial removal of the
tooth crown, or top, to allow access
to the pulpal tissue. Once the affected
pulpal tissue is exposed, the affected
area is removed. The area surrounding
and containing the pulpal tissue is
carefully cleaned, enlarged, and shaped
to provide a clean, bondable surface
for filling with a permanent filler
to prohibit any further infection and
discomfort. After filling, a crown is
fabricated to complete the rescue and
restoration of the natural tooth. The
procedure is generally spread over several
visits to assure the infected pulp and
associated bacteria have been adequately
drained.
Post-Operative
Care Following a Root Canal
Once
the root canal therapy is completed,
there will be changes to adapt to, including:
• brittleness - a pulp-less tooth
is more brittle than a non-treated tooth
and great care should be used to avoid
fracture and chipping
• discoloration - a non-vital
tooth may become discolored over time,
which can be treated with bleaching.
In most cases, the discoloration poses
no threat to the health of the tooth.
In addition, soft tissue inflammation
may be a source of irritation in the
weeks following surgery. Consult your
dentist, or other oral health specialist,
for a treatment approach to help control
any post-operative swelling and discomfort.
If
you require any more information on
EMERGENCY DENTISTRY IN SYDNEY
please do not hesitate to contact us.
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