Root Canal Therapy: What You Need to Know

If a tooth is too badly decayed to be treated with a dental filling, Dr. Stephen Coker may recommend a root canal in Cary, North Carolina.

Why Is a Root Canal Needed?
If a tooth experiences trauma, deep decay, or multiple procedures, the tooth’s pulp can become infected. The pulp is the area in the center of a tooth where the nerves, veins, and connective tissues are located. When the pulp becomes damaged, bacteria forms and multiplies in the pulp chamber. An abscess, which is a pus-filled pocket, can form on the root of the tooth. If this is not corrected, swelling may occur in the face, neck, or head. Infection in the root canal can also cause bone loss in the tooth root. Drainage issues can also occur, which can cause a hole in the tooth.

What Damages the Dental Pulp?
The tooth nerve or root can become inflamed, irritated, or infected because of deep decay, large fillings, a chip or crack in the tooth, injury to the face, or repeated dental procedures on a tooth.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?
During a root canal, Dr. Stephen Coker will remove the infected dental pulp from the inside of the tooth. The tooth’s roots are then cleaned and sealed. In many cases, a dental crown will be placed to protect a tooth that has had a root canal performed on it. Root canal therapy can save the tooth from extraction.

Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?
The belief that root canal therapy is painful is a myth. Root canals are no more uncomfortable than having a dental filling.

We invite you to contact Parkway Dental today at 919-380-9622 to learn more about root canal treatment and to schedule your next appointment.