Dentistry in Fort Mill and Charlotte
Restorative Dentistry & Replacement Teeth
Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal Therapy is treatment for a "dead" or dying pulp within a tooth. The causes of pulp (nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive found deep within the tooth) death are numerous. The most common reason a tooth dies is a cavity forming a deep hole that allows the bacteria found in the mouth to infect the pulp. Other causes for pulp death include tooth fracture or cracks and nightime tooth grinding. Once the pulp becomes infected, it often dies and bacteria take over the pulp chamber and canals. By-products of the bacteria can form a swelling near the root ends of the tooth that can drain and form what some call a "gum boil" or abcess.
A Root Canal involves creating an access hole in the top of the tooth so that specially designed instruments can be inserted into each canal (sometimes 1-5 canals can be present in a single tooth) to clean out infection and prepare them to receive a sterile filling material. Most Root Canal Therapy can be performed in a single visit at the Carolina Smile Center in about an hour.
Since teeth that require root canals are often badly broken down and not strong enough to endure normal function, crowns are often necessary to reinforce the tooth. Sometimes a "post" may be placed in the root canal space to further strengthen the foundation for the crown.
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