Underneath your tooth's outer enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue called the pulp, which carries the tooth's nerves, veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Root canals are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more than four root canals.

Because the tooth will not heal by itself. Without treatment, the infection will spread, bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate, and the tooth may fall-out. 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. See similar questions...

Can be effective first x-ray can help to see the condition of root canal. If your teeth clinical condition stand together. We remove the filling on top of root canal. We use whitening in root canal after we fill the root canals again. See similar questions...

We will explain this to you much more in depth when you are at our office, but essentially, a root canal entails cleaning the inner portion of your tooth (the pulp) with small specialized instruments and disinfecting solutions that kill bacteria and remove diseased tissue. Once the roots have been thoroughly cleaned a rubbery, inert, highly biocompatible material called "gutta-percha" is placed as a filling. See similar questions...

Although the thought of a root canal strikes fear in people, it's usually the discomfort that people have before this procedure that they associate with a root canal. A tooth may need a root canal (endodontic therapy) for many reasons. The most common causes are a large cavity, a large filling or a traumatic event that has occurred on the tooth. All of these reasons have caused the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth to become infected. See similar questions...

A tooth consists of outer hard layers and an inner chamber which contains the pulp. The pulp is composed of nerve and blood vessels. The pulp is subject to trauma and infection due to many causes. A cavity can introduce bacteria into the pulp. A sharp blow to a tooth or biting on a hard object can injure the pulp. A deep filling to restore a deep cavity can injure the pulp. When a pulp is injured, it causes a great deal of pain, and can cause the pulp to die. See similar questions...

Root canals are recommended when a tooth has been fractured, or when decay has entered the nerve chamber and created much pain. Often the body calcifies the tooth membranes, and allows it to remain. Unusual as it sounds, the body does not like dead structures in it, and a healthy body will try to reject it. Pain requiring antibiotics and pain pills are frequently used until the immune system stops working in that area. See similar questions...

In most cases the quantity and quality of discomfort will subside dramatically within the first 24-48 hours. Any sensitivity to cold, hot or even breathing air "in" will be gone after your visit. Nevertheless, you may experience mild discomfort that will last for several days after treatment. Taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, Advil, Motrin, or Aleve usually relieves this discomfort. Tylenol has been proven not to be as effective as aspirin, etc. See similar questions...

Evidence supports performing root canals in one appointment if conditions are favorable. However, if there is infection or uncontrollable bleeding it may best to reappoint and complete the root canal at a later time. See similar questions...