Endodontics (Root canal treatment)
Endodontics is the field of dentistry that treats the root canal system, which is the nerve and blood supply to the tooth.
When decay extends to the pulp or the nerve inside the tooth, the person almost always experiences spontaneous throbbing pain. The pain increases at night and is aggravated with cold and sweet foods. The dentist relieves the pain and pressure symptoms by treating the root canal system which houses the tooth nerve or pulp (a “root canal”).
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Treatment begins with profound anesthesia so that you do not feel the treatment being performed. The tooth nerve is accessed by drilling into the tooth, the infected nerve is removed, canals are cleaned, and filled with a bio-inert material.
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Following root canal treatment, the tooth that has received treatment is fragile due to loss of tooth structure from decay and mechanical instrumentation, and is therefore prone to fracture. Overtime color changes to the tooth are also observed (gray/dark color). To protect the tooth from fracture, the root canal treated tooth requires a crown. Sometimes, when an extensive amount of tooth structure has been lost, a post (a metal or glass fiber pin) will need to be placed for retention of the crown.
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We work with skilled dentists who have specialized in root canal treatment (endodontists).