Patient Information About Endodontics
Root Canal Therapy
What is root canal therapy? Imagine that your tooth has a large cavity that has opened up the canal that runs through your tooth. Tissue lies inside this chamber, and this tissue is often referred to as the pulp. When it is exposed, it can become irritated and infected, causing pain, sensitivity, and the danger of infection spreading. If problems like this are not treated, the tooth will eventually have to be extracted. Root canal therapy, however, is an alternative to tooth extraction that can save your smile.
During the procedure, Drs. Anderson and Lee will remove damaged pieces of tooth and open up the chamber so that they can then remove damaged or infected pulp. The chamber is sterilized and filled, and the tooth is capped with a crown. It’s that simple.
Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Sometimes a tooth will be cracked, but the crack won’t show up on regular X-rays. These small cracks, though, can break through the enamel and dentin to the pulp inside the tooth, causing pain and sensitivity. Cracked tooth syndrome is often caused by teeth grinding and clenching, habits that can develop without you even noticing it in response to stress and anxiety. If you’re suffering from cracked tooth syndrome due to grinding and clenching and receive endodontic treatment without addressing this problem, it will likely mean more cracks in the future and possible damage to dental restorations, leading to the need for more treatment. That’s why we’ll want to explore the possibility of cracked tooth syndrome with you.