What is Root Canal Therapy? What is the Cause of Root Canals?

Tooth pain can indicate a number of dental problems, including cavities and gum disease. Cavities can be repaired with tooth fillings, but if an infection reaches the nerve of a tooth, a root canal treatment may be necessary to save the tooth.

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Root canal therapy saves a tooth that is dead, damaged, or infected. The pulp inside of your tooth is made up of nerves and blood vessels. These nerves and blood vessels can become damaged for a number of reasons:

• Decay: bacteria that cause tooth decay infects the pulp, causing decay.

• Trauma: a traumatic injury causes inflammation of the pulp inside the tooth.

• Deep fillings: dental fillings placed too close to the pulp chamber can damage the tooth.

• Unexplained: sometimes the pulp can become inflamed and die for not immediately obvious reasons.

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A root canal therapy removes the infection and stops the tooth pain you are experiencing. If a tooth that needs a root canal is left, it can lead to more serious issues like tooth loss, abscesses, or systemic infection of your body. 

Signs You May Need Root Canal Therapy

You may be experiencing some pain in one or more of your teeth, but does it need a root canal? Doctor Luffey will examine the tooth during a dental checkup to be certain, but here are a few signs you may need a root canal:

• Moderate to severe tooth pain.

• A toothache so intense it wakes you up at night.

• Pain while chewing.

• Swelling on your gum that may release blood or pus.

• Pain that starts in the tooth and spreads to the jaw or head.