Endodontic Root Canal Therapy

Endodontic therapy, commonly referred to as "root canals", is the treatment of an inflamed or dying tooth.  Inside your teeth, you have a series of nerves and arteries that hydrate your teeth, bring the cells the nutrients they need, and  give your teeth the ability to detect temperature changes and monitor your chewing force.  When a tooth is traumatized either by an accident, decay or an active infection, the tooth responds by becoming inflamed or infected.  This makes the tooth very sensitive. 

HOW DOES A TOOTH BECOME INFECTED?
At first, the tooth may be sensitive to cold, sometimes even heat, and as it worsens, the tooth becomes sensitive to biting down.  Usually at this point it means that the inflammation and infection from the bacteria present in the mouth, has gone down through the root canals, exiting at the end of the root of the tooth.  This makes the surrounding area very tender and sore to biting pressure,  especially at the end of the root.  Sometimes the infection is very aggressive and can cause the person's face, or worse the neck to become swollen.  This is a true dental emergency and should be treated with antibiotics and root canal therapy without delay. 

HOW  IS  A ROOT CANAL TREATED?
The process of endodontic, root canal therapy removes the old, dying nerve, sterilizes the inside of the tooth.  It is then filled with a rubbery material (gutta percha) that seals it off from the surrounding tissues.  This procedure is done in the office, while you are under local anesthesia, or sedated if necessary.  The procedure, itself does not hurt, it is the toothache, before treatment that you hear about that hurts. By administering adequate anesthesia, most people are relieved of the pain they had been experiencing prior to the treatment.  It is a welcomed relief. In the majority of cases,  many people don't need  anything more than an Advil after treatment.

   
Before infection                      Infection into canals               Cleaning & Sterilizing             Canals filled/core


All teeth that have had root canal therapy need to have what is called a composite core  build-up and a crown. Statistics show that when people delay in having the crown placed, after having a root canal, they will lose their tooth within 3-5 years.  Ideally the crown should be prepared within the first 2-4 weeks after endodontic treatment, to avoid potential fracture.   Our goal is to preserve your teeth for as long as possible.                                                                     

Designing Smiles
Angela Hilton-Foley, DMD
13017 W. Linebaugh Ave
Tampa, Florida 33626
(813) 891-1212