Dental Services:Root Canals
Carus Dental has many general dentists who routinely perform root canals on teeth. Root canals are typically performed on a tooth when there has been damage to the nerve and blood vessels found inside the tooth (the area of the tooth known as the pulp). The pulp can become damaged due to a deep cavity, a cracked tooth, long-term grinding, or trauma. Without treatment, the damaged nerve can become infected which may lead to swelling and pain. A root canal is a great option to having the tooth extracted.
A root canal removes the damaged nerve and blood vessels from the inside of the tooth, the canals (where the pulp is located inside the tooth) are cleaned and shaped, and the space inside the tooth is sealed. The benefit is that the outer part of the tooth remains intact and that, after the crack or cavity is repaired, the tooth functions as any other tooth.
The majority of root canals can be completed by one of our general dentists. However, sometimes, if a tooth has a canal that is curved severely or is calcified or if a tooth is located too far in the back of the mouth, your general dentist may refer you to one of our root canal specialists (known as an endodontist).
With today's technology, Carus Dental prides itself by changing root canal misconceptions into positive experiences. Ask your dental provider if a painful tooth can be saved by root canal therapy.
Expert Advice
Saving a natural tooth, if possible, is the best option instead of having it extracted. A root canal, along with an appropriate restoration, is usually a cost-effective way of treating a tooth with a damaged nerve and is typically less expensive that extracting the tooth and replacing it with a bridge or an implant.
Did You Know?
Did you know that root canals have been being performed for a long time? A skull was found in Israel dating from the second or third century B.C. that had a bronze wire in one of its teeth. Researchers believe that this was used to treat an infected pulp and could have been the first example of a root canal.
Did you know that the material used to help seal up the inside of the tooth has had other uses? The material used to seal the inside of the tooth during a root canal is known as gutta percha. Gutta percha is a natural product similar to rubber that is derived from the gutta-percha tree native to the Pacific Rim. Historically, gutta percha has been used to insulate undersea telegraph cables, in jewelry making, and for the inside of golf balls.