Rooth Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy:

When the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or dies, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth.  It is generally a comfortable treatment that can save your tooth and keep your mouth healthy.

Symptoms of infection:

• tooth is sensitive to hot or cold
• tooth hurts with biting or pressure
• tooth is throbbing, severe tooth pain
• area is swollen
• you have a bad taste in your mouth

Causes of infection:

The pulp of the tooth becomes infected when bacteria invades the inner layers of the tooth.  The tooth pulp is a soft tissue made up of nerves and blood vessels.  It is contained in the pulp chamber that extends from the middle of the tooth down through the tooth roots.

Infection occurs most commonly through a deep cavity that allows the bacteria through the enamel and dentin layers and into the pulp.  Sometimes the pulp simply dies due to a fracture or a blow to the tooth.

Diagnosis and treatment:

To determine if your tooth has an infected pulp, Dr. Steppler will do a thorough examination.  The exam often includes x-rays and sometimes includes checking the health of the pulp with a pulp tester.  We may also apply heat or cold, tap lightly on the tooth to see if it is sensitive, look for changes in the tooth's color, or press gently on the gums next to the tooth to check for pain.

If Dr. Steppler determines that you have an infected tooth, we talk with you about root canal therapy to remove the infection and save the tooth.  It is important to treat an infected tooth in order to prevent the infection from spreading through the root tips and causing a painful abscess in the jawbone.