When the inside of your tooth becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture that allows bacteria to seep in, or injury due to trauma, it can die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow and pressure cannot be relieved from inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is commonly felt when biting down, chewing on it and applying hot or cold foods and drinks. The tooth may even hurt on its own and wake you up at night.

Root canals stop the pain! Root canal therapy is necessary because the tooth will not heal by itself. Without treatment, infection will spread, the bone around the tooth will begin to break down and swelling, or an abscess, can occur. Pain usually worsens until one is forced to seek emergency dental attention. The only alternative is usually extraction of the tooth, which can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly, resulting in a bad bite and jaw pain. Though an extraction is cheaper, the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can be more expensive than root canal therapy. If you have the choice, it’s always best to keep your original teeth. The longer your prolong treatment, the worse the situation will become, often resulting in more expensive and more painful procedures than if it was taken care of sooner.

A root canal treatment is where we take the diseased area of the tooth out and fill that space with a material to prevent recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed with a post and/or porcelain crown. This enables you to keep the original tooth.

Natural tissue inflammation may cause discomfort for a few days, which can be controlled by an over-the-counter analgesic. A follow-up exam can monitor tissue healing. From this point on, brush and floss regularly, avoid chewing hard foods with the treated tooth, and visit Dr. Rich regularly.