Endodontics
Endodontics, or Root Canal Therapy can save teeth that have abscessed. The pulp is the vital tissue inside each tooth comprised of nerves, blood vessels, and loose connective tissue. When a tooth gets knocked, decayed, cracked, or has a deep filling, the pulp can act as an alarm system and fire-off pain in the form of a toothache. Severe toothaches often indicate the pulp is dying and bacteria is infecting the passageways (canals) inside the roots where the pulp once occupied.
In order to save an infected (abscessed) tooth, the chambers and canals within the tooth's root(s) must be carefully cleaned and shaped to remove bacteria and any last remnants of pulp tissue. High-tech instruments, sterilizing irrigants, and miniature flexible files are used in this process. Once the canal system is decontaminated and properly shaped, a specialized filling material is placed to seal the root's canals. It is important that the filling material stop at the end of the canal system, so digital radiographs are important throughout the procedure.
Some teeth have moderately to severely curved roots, multiple roots, and/or calcified (blocked or constricted) canals. These difficult teeth require skilled specialists known as Endodontists to perform the treatment. In these cases, patients are appropriately referred out to a specialist's office. This is often the case with upper and lower molar teeth.
Once the root canal treatment is complete, the general dentist must place a final restoration in/on the affected tooth. At times, a filling is an option, but frequently, teeth requiring root canal treatment must be strengthened with a crown.