Root Canal Therapy
This treatment is as much preventative as it is an emergency treatment. Sometimes referred to as “Endodontic Treatment” which is necessary when an infection is uncovered and needs to be removed to protect the tooth from further bacterial and microbial invasion. The set of procedures is traditionally known as a “Root Canal”. The reason for the name is because the root canal and their associated pulp chamber are the hallows inside the tooth that house the “nerve tissue, blood vessels, and cellular entities”.
When a Root Canal Treatment is Necessary
Sometimes the tooth becomes threatened by infection, decay, cracking, and future infection becomes likely or inevitable, what is called a pulpectomy, or removal of the pulp tissue around the tooth becomes advisable to prevent such an infection. The good news is that the infected tooth can be saved, rather than be removed. This process can involve one to three visits and involves little to no pain.
The Goal in this Emergency Treatment is saving the tooth with as little damage or pain possible. A local anesthetic is usually given before the procedure to maintain comfort. The affected tooth will be covered during treatement to protect it from saliva with a rubber like sheet called a dam.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed after the treatment if an infection is present and has spread beyond the roots of the tooth.